[Peace-discuss] [Peace] Fwd: "Panhandling"

[Karen Medina]

If Mort is misunderstanding, than how many others will also?
-karen medina

On Sat, Jul 23, 2011 at 1:18 PM, Morton K. Brussel <brussel at illinois.edu> wrote:
> Comments:
> Poverty is a major cause of unpleasantness and criminal behavior, but to rid
> society of poverty would not solve all problems of ciminality.
> The Urbana city council was informed that some people were
> alarmed/frightened by behaviors they encountered, and responded with an
> ordinance. I do not believe that they conflated panhandling with violent
> crime or race. Whether the "public" believes that is arguable.
> Unfortunately, many opponents of the ordinance have conflated all those who
> panhandle as innocents subject to racial and economic persecution. They do
> not believe that even assuming certain kinds of panhandling is simply a
> nuisance it is a significant problem to those feeling threatened. They
> reject the notion that such a problem can have any regulatory solution.
> There is poverty and there is criminality. Solutions must be sought for
> both, not overlooked for either. We are not at the stage where this society
> is about to tackle the problems of poverty and the underclass. Yet,
> criminality still needs to be addressed.
> Whether "aggressive panhandling" should be considered criminal, or simply as
> mischievous or harmlessly unpleasant, is something for society to determine.
> That is what I feel is at issue here.
> Finally, I don't believe that the ordinance at hand can be effectively
> enforced (Will police be permanently stationed at hotspots of
> panhandling?), and it is therefore largely ineffective, hence useless,
> except possibly as a dissuasive element. How dissuasive will it be? For that
> we need data.
> --mkb
>
>
> On Jul 23, 2011, at 12:06 PM, Belden Fields wrote:
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Belden Fields <a-fields at illinois.edu>
> Date: July 23, 2011 12:02:30 PM CDT
> To: CUCPJ <discuss at communitycourtwatch.org>
> Cc: Esther Patt <estherpatt at hotmail.com>
> Subject: Fwd: "Panhandling"
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Belden Fields <a-fields at illinois.edu>
> Date: July 23, 2011 12:01:59 PM CDT
> To: casmyth at city.urbana.il.us, Brandon Bowersox <brandonbowersox at gmail.com>,
> hdstevenson at city.urbana.il.us
> Cc: Eric Jakobsson <councileric at gmail.com>, dproberts at city.urbana.il.us,
> dwmarlin at city.urbana.il.us
> Subject: "Panhandling"
> Dear Council Members,
> As per my comments before the Committee of the Whole about the way the word
> "panhandling" had been conflated with violent crime and racialized in the
> public mind by the initial proposed ordinance and the  way it was discussed
> in the press, I share the concern that councilperson Robert Lewis has with
> even the revised and improved ordinance.
> What I propose is that the ordinance be named an ordinance concerning
> Solicitation of Money From Strangers on the Public Way.
> Then, the paragraph beginning with the words "Panhandling means...", under
> Sec. 15-68, would be shortened.  The first sentence would begin: "Such
> proscribed behavior does not include....."
> If we are really focused on behavior, then even Santa Clause ringing a bell
> for donations or a person selling poppies for disabled vets should not
> engage in aggressive behavior.  The ordinance would thus really address
> behavior in a general way and not a stigmatized subset of people.
> Thanks for y;our attention.
> Belden Fields