Fighting The Homeless?

Proposed Austin ordinances would criminalize common homeless activities -- but might some of these activities be more common than many realize?

1 minute read

December 2, 2004, 1:00 PM PST

By David Gest


Austin "is currently considering four proposed changes to ordinances concerning public sleeping, panhandling, and loitering. The proposals...are in part a response to increased pressure from downtown business owners that the city do more about transients...Highlighted by new restrictions on panhandling, the proposed ordinance would criminalize solicitation, sleeping in public, blocking sidewalks, and standing in a roadway...The solicitation change, [one homeless advocate] believes, either would affect everything from charity drives to Girl Scout cookie sales, or else would be 'inappropriately applied singularly to homeless people.'"

Thanks to David Gest

Friday, November 26, 2004 in The Austin Chronicle

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