Finally order–and common sense–have been restored on the subject of panhandling in Tampa. By a 6-1 vote, Tampa City Council has given preliminary approval to a six-day ban on most roadside solicitations. The much anticipated vote was characterized by the dramatic return of the frail-looking Charlie Miranda and the grandstanding turn taken by the posturing Mary Mulhern.
“I do believe that we cannot criminalize poverty,” moralized Mulhern, the sole Council member to vote nay.
Appeals to emotions notwithstanding, this is about the societal duality of public safety and homelessness.
As to the former, the confluence of motor vehicles, distracted drivers, solicitors and traffic lights that regularly cycle from red to green is inherently problematic. Then add in burgeoning numbers, increasing squatters’ rights issues and a higher incidence of the decorum-challenged. No wonder the police chief and the last two mayors have favored panhandler bans.
As to the latter, there are alternatives to “criminalizing poverty.” Mayor Bob Buckhorn has made the involvement of the business community and Hillsborough County a top priority. He’s already reached out to County Commissioner Sandra Murman, County Administrator Mike Merrill and Tampa Bay Lightning go-to CEO Tod Leiweke. City Council has endorsed the recommendation of a homelessness task force to study the implementation of something akin to Pinellas County’s Safe Harbor shelter, which helps the chronically homeless redirect their lives.
This much is manifestly evident: the status quo is not acceptable.
At its emotional core, this is about helping those in need. Those who live at the intersection of hard times and societal subplots. Where life-isn’t-fair meets self-help onus. None of us can judge infallibly. People have a right–legal and human–to ask for help. But where there are rights, there are responsibilities. Bad policy in the name of good intentions is still bad policy.