Two years ago the Tampa City Council passed an ordinance partially banning panhandling of motorists on major roadways. But for months local business owners have complained about the homeless in north downtown urinating, defecating and being physically violent, and many of them discussed their concerns with the Council today.
They were advocating for the council to approve an ordinance that would tighten or prohibit any aggressive solicitation in front of banks, ATMS, sidewalk cafes and bus station stops, specifically in the downtown and Ybor City areas. The City Council approved the ordinance on first reading on a 6-1 vote, with Mary Mulhern dissenting.
However, officers could not enforce the ordinance unless the city could provide alternatives for them to go to. Tampa Police Captain Marc Hamlin said the idea was not to arrest the homeless, but said that it was at their discretion when to apprehend the homeless.
Marcia Barcus, CEO for the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County, said she had reviewed the ordinances and said she supported it, since it would only be enforced if there was a place to bring the homeless to – but not jail.
She said that the timing was good now, since the Coalition expects to be getting 205 vouchers for chronically homeless veterans from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and 70 such vouchers for others described as chronically homeless.
This article appears in Jun 27 – Jul 3, 2013.