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Panhandling becomes an issue in Tampa elections

Posted Jan 7, 2011 by Christian M. Wade

Updated Jan 7, 2011 at 06:03 PM

Mayoral candidate Bob Buckhorn says if elected one of his first actions would be to submit a proposed panhandling ban to the city council for approval.
“While I am sympathetic to the needy, we cannot allow this to continue any longer,” he said in a statement issued Friday. “Panhandling at any intersection puts the driver, the passengers and the needy person in harm’s way.”
He has posted a statement about the issue on his campaign Website: http://www.bobbuckhorn.com
In 2009, Mayor Pam Iorio proposed a ban on median solicitation, but the city council backed away from it. Instead, council members opted for watered-down rules allowing solicitors to use rights of way if they followed basic safety requirements.
But since St. Petersburg banned panhandling last year, Tampa has seen a proliferation of beggars on its roadways—along with calls to address with the issue.
With the March 1 elections approaching, several mayoral and council candidates have made the issue part of their campaign platforms, with some calling for a ban.
Mayoral candidate and city council chairman Tom Scott says he is working his own proposal with the Iorio administration to identify roadways where solicitation might be prohibited during peak hours. He opposes a complete ban.