Panhandling Ban Fails Tampa City Council Vote, 5-2

The Tampa City Council voted down a proposed ordinance Thursday that would have banned panhandling, newspaper sales and charity donations on arterial roads in the city, including Hillsborough, Florida and Nebraska avenues.

The 5-2 vote came after council members heard from dozens of newspaper street vendors, who pleaded with city leaders to not put them out of work. Many said it was the only source of income they could find after losing their previous jobs.

Several advocates for the homeless told the council that such a ban would further devastate a vulnerable group of residents who have no other means of supporting themselves than by begging on city streets.

Only two people addressed the council in support of a ban.

The ordinance had been submitted by Chairman Thomas Scott, who said he saw it as “a compromise” between no ban and a total one that would put the newspaper hawkers out of work completely.

Before casting her vote of no, District 2 Councilwoman Mary Mulhern said the controversial issue had almost convinced her not to seek re-election.

“This issue and this ordinance, it’s the most difficult thing I’ve faced on council,” she said.

District 6 Councilman Charlie Miranda said he didn’t think a partial ban would work.

“The problem will move into the neighborhoods,” he said.

District 4 Councilwoman Yvonne Yolie Capin agreed.

“It is not a solution,” she said. “It will continue.”

Miranda added that he’d consider voting yes on a total ban before he would ever support a partial one.  He reasoned that a partial ban could harm newspaper sellers because they wouldn’t be able to generate enough sales if they were forced onto less trafficked streets.

Before casting his vote of no, District 7 Councilman Joseph Caetano, who has been the biggest voice on Council in support of a total ban on panhandling, said the group should wait to see what the Hillsborough County Commission does before they go creating new city ordinances.

Hillsborough County currently has an ordinance banning roadside transactions on county roads. At its first meeting in March, the Board of Commissioners is set to consider an amendment that would add state roads to the ban.

Thursday’s City Council vote breaks down as follows:

No

• Gwen Miller, District 1
• Mary Mulhern, Disrict 2
• Yvonne Yolie Capin, District 4
• Charlie Miranda, Disrict 6
• Joseph Caetano, Distict 7

Yes

• Curtis Stokes, District 3
• Thomas Scott, District 5