[Mpls] Being in need illegal in Minneapolis again

[Barbara Lickness]

Michael - I used to think laws of this nature were
unjust too. That was until I moved to Whittier. 

In Whittier, our zealot panhandlers may be homeless,
they may live nearby or they may not live anywhere
around here. 

Their reason for panhandling isn't to get money to pay
find housing or buy clothes to find a job. Their
reason for panhandling is to buy liquor at the liquor
store near Franklin and Nicollet or to buy crack,
heroine or whatever else is the "high" of the day. 

Many are already inebriated or high when they
panhandle and they bother people at bus stops, walking
by or in their cars. When you refuse them, some of the
get down right angry and threatening. 

My neighborhood worked long and hard to revitalize
Nicollet and turn it into the thriving commercial
corridor it is today. The last thing we need is
unbridled panhandling on Nicollet. The continued
vibrancy of Nicollet depends on people visiting the
convention center and other people who live in the
region to visit and eat in one of the many choices of
restaurants. 

I also frequent Downtown regularly. I use Block E, I
go to plays and concerts at the theaters, events at
the Target Center and I shop downtown. I have been
hassled by panhandlers downtown. And, while I may have
the ability to send them on their way, other people
are more shaken by it. Those are the people who will
go away and not come back. We need our downtown to
thrive and we need people to feel safe when they visit
downtown. 

Barb Lickness
Whittier

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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead