Getting a Handle on Panhandling

Downtown Athens has an undeniably unique atmosphere that is driven by the traditions, music and wide variety of shops and businesses. Many locals have said that they feel this atmosphere is being compromised by an increasing number of people asking for money.

The ACC’s Legislative Review Committee met on Tuesday to discuss possible changes to the panhandling ordinance.  

Kathryn Lookofsky, director of the , shared her research dealing with the growing panhandling issue. She said that most businesses get two or three customer complaints each day.

She also said that at any given time, there can be four to six panhandlers per block, and often there are three panhandlers on the corner of College Avenue and Clayton Street alone.

Other complaints include trampling of flower beds and cigarette smoke that wafts into businesses. Panhandlers have also been spotted disturbing customers who are eating on the patios of restaurants and entering businesses to ask for money or boxes.

The main concern of many Athens businesses is that the panhandlers keep customers and visitors away from downtown. Business owners say the panhandlers are unbecoming for a town that is supposed to be selling itself as a great place to work, visit and attend college, and it’s ultimately having an adverse effect on the economy of downtown Athens.

Chuck Jones, director of the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau, shared some of his experiences with panhandlers. He said there have been times when he has been with VIP visitors who were shocked and sometimes put off by the number of panhandlers in the downtown area.

He also said one of his co-workers recently witnessed an overwhelming number of panhandlers on the short walk from the Classic Center to The Last Resort.

One committee member asked if they thought the community wanted to completely prohibit panhandling or if they were looking to isolate specific instances.

The response was there is specific concern about panhandling after night fall and also when people are approached while handling money. Locations such as parking meters, ATMS and restaurants generate safety concern and seem to be the main focus of this situation.  

The committee discussed the ordinance that has been proposed by the ADDA. Based on research of similar ordinances from other cities, it would uphold the regulations on aggressive panhandling, but would also include restrictions on the use of both spoken and written words. There would also be more specific rules dealing with when and where panhandling can occur.

The attorneys present at the meeting said that panhandling ordinances in some other cities are very straight forward and simple, but they often face Constitutional issues. The Columbus ordinance that says you can’t be a “tramp” in Columbus. At this, the room erupted with laughter.

Although the new ordinance would not be so simple, they said that there still may be Constitutional problems at hand.

One specific issue addressed in the proposed ordinance is street performers. Many people feel this is a vital part of the downtown Athens experience, so ADDA has proposed an exception, allowing street performers to ask for money.

Both the pros and cons of the current ordinance were acknowledged. Police Chief Jack Lumpkin said the current law is enforceable, but only if there is a witness to the event. He also said the only way someone can be prosecuted for panhandling is if it in an aggressive manner.

At the end of the meeting, Commissioner Doug Lowry urged the committee to come to the next meeting prepared to discuss the public purpose of changing this ordinance and what benefits they want to achieve.

Members said they recognized other aspects of panhandling must be examined and discussed. They have merely scratched the surface.