San Antonio Police Chief William McManus has decided not to further pursue an ordinance that would have made it illegal to give money to panhandlers on the street or in traffic. Instead, he told the the Public Safety Committee Wednesday afternoon that the San Antonio Police Department’s efforts will be focused on an awareness campaign, directing citizens to donate to charitable organizations instead of giving on the street.
McManus said it became clear to him that the ordinance would not make it out of committee and would be difficult to enforce, so he decided to take a more “holistic approach.”
McManus presented the ordinance during last month’s meeting to the committee – chaired by District 3 Councilmember Rebecca Viagran and including District 10 Councilmember Mike Gallagher, District 5 Councilmember Shirley Gonzales, District 7 Councilmember Mari Aguirre-Rodriguez, and District 9 Councilmember Joe Krier (who was absent Wednesday). Members expressed skepticism at that meeting, and public comment in many forums has been largely opposed to the ordinance. Read the comment section from our coverage of McManus’ presentation here.
“Instead of giving money (on the street) which will probably go to alcohol or drugs, the money that you send through this link will go to Haven for Hope,” he said. “This way you know where your money goes and what it’s used for.”
The “Change That Makes a Difference” campaign starts with a public service announcement video and continues throughout the community with SAPD officers handing out two-sided informational cards to would-be panhandlers and those that might give change – so, everyone, really.
The QR code, when scanned by a smart phone and provided with a link on one side of the card, directs you to Haven For Hope’s donation page on its website.
“Although SAPD is partnering with Haven for Hope on this particular campaign, there are dozens of charities in the area who can accept your donations and do great things for people in need,” stated an SAPD press release announcing the campaign.
What are some of those charities and organizations that are helping to “move the needle” – to borrow the phrase – on homelessness? Try the San Antonio Food Bank, SAMMinistries, United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, Seton Home (safe shelter), Alamo Area Resource Center, and the San Antonio AIDS Foundation Transitional Housing, to name a few.
The other side of the card provides quick information about Haven for Hope’s programming and campus as well as the Courtyard, the 24/7 outdoor space with access to restrooms, showers, and meals. “All single, married (without children) who are homeless age 18 and over welcome.”
Ironically, some of the requirements for entry into the main campus, as the card indicates, are “must be homeless; Bexar County resident for at least one year, with proof of residency …”
Haven For Hope has an ID Recovery Program to help homeless or displaced residents find the right people, paperwork, and phone numbers to take the next step towards regaining identification documents.
(Read more: Helping the Homeless Recover Identities)
Panhandling, on the panhandler’s side, remains illegal in San Antonio and violations carry a $200-$500 fine. It’s illegal to solicit money or things of value within 50 feet of certain areas, including banks, ATMs, parking meters/pay stations, outdoor dining areas, bus stops, stop lights and intersections, and more. It’s basically illegal everywhere “the public is considered vulnerable, or where solicitation would interfere with the flow of traffic.”
Permits are available by application to gain very limited, short-term access to roadways in order to collect money for charities. For example, during the San Antonio Fire Department’s Fill the Boot Campaign, firefighters are allowed to solicit donations from vehicles stopped at a traffic light.
SAPD has been working with the District Attorney’s office and Health and Human Services departments to develop avenues for repeat offenders to either enter rehabilitation facilities voluntarily or by court order.
After three or more citations, the District Attorney has the ability to increase a “frequent flyer’s” offense from a Class C misdemeanor – essentially a $500 traffic ticket – to a Class B misdemeanor – a $2,000 fine and up to six months in jail.
*Featured/top image: Earl holds up his cardboard sign in hopes of receiving change from drivers passing by. Photo by Scott Ball.
Related Stories:
Panhandling and Faithful Citizenship
SAPD to Propose Anti-Panhandling Ordinance
San Antonio, Let’s Have a Conversation About Poverty
Glad he saw that there are better ways as mentioned in The Rivard Report yesterday.
there are many non govertment programs in this city for the homeless they should list that too rather than just governement funded facilities. When I do see a panhandler I just give them water, fruits and an old used yoga mat…
I still can’t believe this was a real story. When I read about this proposal originally, I thought, “man, the Onion sure isn’t that funny anymore.”
How is fining a homeless panhandler $500 to $2000 for repeat offenses any sort of a solution? If these folks had this kind of money, the problem could ipso facto be solved. The problem is investors who buy up housing and keep it vacant if no one can afford the high rent they need to make profits.
Why do these stories always fail to mention that McManus is set to retire in the next weeks and work security for CPS Energy? Why was a major policing policy change suggested by a retiring officer in his last days in the role given any consideration by Council at all?
And why has the City or local press (RR?) never mapped San Antonio’s unusual existing ‘aggressive’ panhandling ordinance restrictions – which appear to push panhandling into traffic?
The City’s existing ordinance would likely not survive a court challenge, as panhandling is protected by the First Amendment and the City’s current ‘place’ restrictions on this form of free speech are unprecedented, onerous and put the public at risk.
http://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Police-chief-McManus-headed-to-CPS-Energy-5626675.php
And with all the discussion currently about homelessness and vacant buildings in
San Antonio, why is there no connection with Housing First or expansion of living wage law in
San Antonio?
The privatized downtown ‘Amigos’ who represent the City and help enforce the panhandling ordinance (“watchful for unwanted behaviors”) start at $8 or $9 an hour and receive no City benefits.
Would you rather support policing and regulation or workers and housing?
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/09/22/home-free
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/30/nyregion/de-blasio-to-sign-executive-order-significantly-expanding-living-wage-law.html
https://therivardreport.com/ambassadors-amigos-walking-and-working-downtown-with-a-san-antonio-saint/
https://apply.smsholdings.com/Application/Page1.aspx
Good that he withdrew his proposal. Now he should back off on Uber and Lyft. Then it’s time for him to go.
Thank goodness! McManus is more sensible than many politicians. I opposed this idea, but I figured it would go through anyway, as most bad ideas do.
Drop it like it’s HOT, McManus. We’d all like to think this wasn’t your idea, you were pressured into it politically as some kind of favor to someone you owed. Never did match up to you, and what you stand for.