An ordinace to stop panhandling
In the latest edition of “Your Opinion Matters” counselor’s King, Stefanini and Cannon propose an Ordinance Regulating the Manner and Place of Solicitation. I won’t write the entire ordinance but will say, I’m no expert on civil rights or the constitution but do know that courts have ruled the right to panhandle is a first amendment right. Even the cities web site affirms that. Perhaps the lawyers on the counsel know more than I do.
What we don't need in Town is another lawsuit and if this ordinance were to be adopted, someone would surely sue us, imo.
https://www.framinghamma.gov/2386/Panhandling
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/top-court-strikes-down-mass-anti-panhandling-law/2258389/
posted by Jim Pillsbury @ 12:16 PM
16 Comments
16 Comments:
Stefanini post every Lent about what he is giving up, implying that he is someone who practices his faith. I don't know what bible he reads, or what church he claims to be a member of, but I do know that my catholic faith teaches me that we are our brothers keepers. That means we take care of them, especially those less fortunate than we are. The bible also tells us in Matthew 7 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Maybe John needs to become more familiar with us faith. Just saying.
The SJC made a ruling on this in 2020 I believe saying you either had to forbid everyone from soliciting, including say the Fireman boot collection, or not forbid anyone. You have it right Jim. I think Framingham leaves themselves open to a lawsuit if they try to restrict what some refer to as panhandlers from collecting unless we make illegal for everyone to do this. I would have expected John and George to know this as lawyers, but I am not a lawyer so maybe I got this wrong.
I am in favor of passing this ordinance. We need to stop allowing these people to ask us for money they don't deserve
Do firemen deserve our donations? How about Girl Scouts who take our money for cookies? How about Veterans who give out poppy flowers for a donation? Or the Salvation Army kettle workers?
Who are we to judge who is worthy of our money?
I think the ACLU will have a field day with this ordinance.
I just see trouble down the road.
I think we need the ordinance but we need to be sure it is not going to result in a law suit costing all of us more money.
I think we have far more important issues here is Framingham to deal with than this bullshit ordinance. How about out of control water bills? Pot holes? License plate readers? Covid-19? this is really what these 3 bozos want to focus on, some poor soul who for whatever reason is collecting money at stop lights. I think the best way to deal with that is to allow those of us who so choose to give them money, and those who choose not to do that can just ignore them. We should not be regulating every single action and individual takes. Too much of that going on already if you ask me
Why did this come up? Did someone get hurt or was there a traffic issue caused by people collecting on the medium of Rte 30? I have not read about any issues but then I had not read about this new proposed ordinance until I read it here. Is this a done deal or where is this in the process?
Most of these panhandlers own homes and have money in the bank because of what they collect on street corners. We should not have to deal with this every time we drive down a road in Framingham stop giving them money and they will stop standing out there
How do you know anything about the people you refer to as panhandlers? Or are you just spouting some lies to make them look bad? I can not imagine anyone standing out in the rain and the snow to collect a few bucks unless they have mental health or financial issues or both. Let's be more compassionate people.
Please Please tell us how you know that blond women standing on Rte 30 has a home, or the guy on Speen Street. Have you ever spoken to any of those people? Suggested them to seek help at SMOC or the Salvation Army? I'll bet not Why not just ignore them? easy peasy
John and his pals have proposed a few ordinances and even another blue ribbon committee to look at the Town owned buildings. I seem to remember at least one from the Town Meeting days.
All of this genuflecting by the three are supposed to spawn a public dialogue. Nothing happening this week.... but soon I believe.
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Jim you hit a bullseye with this one!!
Stefanini is only doing this to get his name in the paper to try and make us think he is relevant. He still doesnt get it. He will never be mayor no matter what parlor tricks he pulls. The other two crotch sniffers are just playing along.
NO MORE LAWSUITS WE CAN’T WIN!
If John and Mike want to stop the begging then they should get off their chubby asses and get out there and tell the drivers to stop donating. The beggars will go elsewhere if the money supply is turned off.
What is the goal of these things? First he says we should cut all ties with our sister Russian city, now he is after poor homeless people. Does not paint a very good picture of the man who wanted to be mayor but screwed that up by trashing the campaign materials of his opposition. One would think he learned his lesson then but guess not.
Stefanini thinks we are too stupid and will forget what he did. Wrong.
If you saw this all play out on some reality tv show you would say it was fake. no one could be that dumb to think they could get away with what he has done in the past and then start picking on poor people to make them look like the bad guys
Another Stefanini fake-o-arma that Petroni can craft into a blog gushfest entry :)
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