West Palm Beach restricting panhandling to public urination downtown
West Palm Beach city commissioners just passed a controversial amendment of an ordinance minus one portion that caused controversy.
NEW AT 11 --- WEST PALM BEACHCITY COMMISSIONERS SAY THEISSUES OF PANHANDLING ANDHOMELESS SLEEPING DOWNTOWN ANDIN THE NORTHWOOD NEIGHBORHOODIS OUT OF CONTROL.
THEYPROPOSED STIFFENING THEPENALTIES BUT THE IDEA CAMEWITH A RESOUNDING "NO" TONIGHTFROM HOMELESS ADVOCATES.REPORTER TODD WILSON SHARESBOTH SIDES AND WHAT CHANGESDID GO THROUGH.<< NATS: (VO) WEST PALM BEACHCITY COMMISSIONERS JUST PASSEDA CONTROVERSIAL AMENDMENT OFAN ORDINANCE..
MINUS ONEPORTION THAT CAUSEDCONTROVERSY.
(SOT)MAYOR JAMES.THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT ACRIMINALIZATION OFHOMELESSNESS.
NATS: (VO)COMMISSIONERS SET OUT TO PASSAN AMENDMENT THAT REGULATESCERTAIN BEHAVIORS SUCH ASPANHANDLING, PUBLIC URINATION,AND SLEEPING/CAMPING IN PUBLICAREAS DOWNTOWN, AND IN THENORTHWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEPOSSIBLE DECISION DREW A HUGECROWD OF FOLKS AGAINST THEAMENDMENT.
MANY WHO SAY THEORDINANCE CRIMINALIZESHOMELESSNESS.
(SOT ) YOU'REJUST RELOCATING THEM THEY'REGOING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.(SOT) I'M GOING TO KEEPTALKING TO YOU, I'M GOING TOKEEP TALKING TO YOU, I LOVEYOU.
NATS: (VO) IT ALSOATTRACTED A SMALL NUMBER OFPEOPLE IN SUPPORT.
(SOT)WILLDAVIS- BUSINESS OWNER IT'S NOTTHAT PEOPLE ARE NOT BEINGCOMPASSIONATE I THINK THAT'SWHAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAKEIT SEEM AND IT'S NOT RIGHT.NATS: (VO) BUT THE DEBATE OVERCAMPING/SLEEPING IN PUBLICAREAS BEGAN TO WEIGH ONCOMMISSIONERS CORY NEERING ANDJOSEPH PEDUZZI.
BOTHQUESTIONED WHETHER IT WAS THESMART THING TO INCLUDE IN THEORDINANCE TO MAYOR JAMES'FRUSTRATION.
(SOT ) I THINKYOU SHOULD SPECIFY WHAT IT ISYOU ARE TRYING TO WORK ON.NATS: (VO) IN THE END, THECOMMISSIONERS CAME TO ACOMPROMISE.
THE ORDINANCEPASSED BUT WITHOUT THECAMPING/SLEEPING PORTION.TODD'S TAG: ALONG WITH THEORDINANCE IS A $500 PENALTY OR60 DAYS IN JAIL IF SOMEONE ISCAUGHT BY POLICE.
