Pan-Handlers are still working
Interesting piece in the MWDN, finally, someone has interviewed a pan-handler who is working the Rte 30, Speen Street area about the ordinance that was passed by the CC. The man’s name is Larry and I’ve given him money in the past. He’s homeless and lives in a hotel, I assume it’s the Red Roof Inn, the best in third world accommodations.
Apparently, FPD is warning those who collect money from the medians on certain roads. On Saturday, on Rte 30 in front of Lowes there were well dressed men in the roads and by the time I left Lowes, all of them were gone. The women at Rte 30 and 126 was gone as well.
At some point, there will be tickets and fines for those who continue to pan-handle. The weather will be turning ugly very soon which will slow down the number of pan-handlers. And since the ordinance is far reaching in scope to include political speech and asking for charitable donations, you may not see the FFD collecting for MD or the Salvation Army or people holding political signs at intersections.
According to the paper, the ACLU is questioning the constitutionality of the ordinance. I suspect the ACLU will be taking us to court and perhaps already have spoken to our new city solicitor.
posted by Jim Pillsbury @ 1:09 PM
7 Comments
7 Comments:
I did notice those guys outside Lowe's/Target gone pretty early in the day for them. Do you know for sure if they were asked to leave by cops or if they just left? Same with other people collecting on the median on Rt.30. I saw some out there yesterday and also this morning. I hope the ACLU does look into this. It just seems discriminatory to me that we only do this on certain roads and I have seen no statistical back-up that would justify why only some roads are covered by this.
I just don't get why this is such a big deal Don't we have better things to worry about then the few panhandlers on the streets?
I was told by an eye witness, FPD was talking with that women at Rte 30 and 126.
To my knowledge there's no anti pan-handling law or ordinance on the books here in Mass. All attempts have been shot down by the courts.
Those of you/us who have held signs on the sidewalks on various roads and intersections could be ticketed under this ordinance.
People could be fined if they are caught by police "in the act" for walking IN the roads listed and/or are APPROACHING drivers. They will not be fined for standing on the side walk with signs. AND the ordinance could impact anyone walking on those listed streets, not just panhandlers.
Jim it is only a matter of time before some good-doer lawyer who wants to make a name for himself takes one of these panhandlers as a client and starts suing like crazy.
And the cost of those legal filings will be from the pockets of residents So our taxes go up because the selectmen kicked the can down the road for years and years on the water issue, we have the funds to install cameras around town to capture license plates, but we can't afford enough cameras to protect our kids in schools, and we spend our time "writing" ordinances that will likely cost all of us home owners in the city more every month. At what point are the residents of Framingham going to wake up and see that the current DC members, or at least 75% of them, are NOT working for the benefit of the people the are supposed to represent. I hope in November 2023 we vote all of them out.
I agree on a good-doer lawyer taking up the cause.
line a few qualified candidates for 2023.
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