[Peace] Stop the anti-panhandling ordinance: Mon 7pm

[Danielle Chynoweth]

Dear friends and neighbors,

Urbana City Council is considering an anti-panhandling ordinance that
outlaws reasonable requests for help, promotes discrimination, and
exacerbates poverty.  The council is split on the issue; with some effort we
can stop passage of this law.

*1. Come to the next council meeting:
*THIS Monday, July 18th at 7pm

*2. Sign the petition against the panhandling ordinance:*
http://www.change.org/petitions/urbana-city-council-oppose-the-urbana-anti-panhandling-ordinance

*3. Contact your representatives:*
http://urbanaillinois.us/city-council

4. Read more ...

All arguments for the law cite aggressive panhandling, but the law is much
broader, banning asking for help at times and places it is most likely to be
needed. It would ban asking for help in at a bus stop, on the bus, in a
public parking lot, from any person in a car, in a line, after sunset, in
groups of 2, near a bank/ATM, or on private property. It would ban all
requests for help in Philo Road Business District for one year. It carries a
$50-165 fine.

The problem cited is not people asking for help, but aggressive behavior.
There are existing city and state laws protecting residents from aggressive
behavior. If additional laws are needed, they should prohibit aggressive
requests (panhandling, sexual advances, etc) not legitimate requests for
help.

You can read the whole ordinance here:
http://urbanaillinois.us/sites/default/files/attachments/ordinance-2011-07-080_1.pdf

Please forward this on.

- Danielle
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