Friday, August 10, 2012
L.A. Times Says Arcata's Panhandling Ordinance "Goes Too Far"
Posted By Ryan Burns @RyanBurnsy on Fri, Aug 10, 2012 at 6:14 PM
In an editorial that's bound to make the Arcata Chamber of Commerce wince, the Los Angeles Times today came out against the city's 2010 panhandling ordinance, saying:
The city's frustration is understandable, but its remedy is too broad and too punitive, emblematic of the excesses that many municipalities succumb to in confronting the unsightly but all too human problems associated with panhandling.
Political activist Richard Salzman filed suit against the city last year, claiming that the ordinance's geographic restrictions against begging violate the First Amendment. The Times' editorial board agrees:
Yes, it can be irritating to be confronted by poverty while exiting a store, but the tender sensibilities of shoppers cannot be allowed to outweigh the rights of Americans.
A decision on the case is expected soon.
Previously: Cold Shoulders, Spare Rights, Media Maven: Free Speech Now!
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Ryan Burns
Ryan Burns worked for the Journal from 2008 to 2013, covering a diverse mix of North Coast subjects, from education, politics and marijuana to human suspension, sex parties and amateur fight contests. He won awards for investigative reporting, feature stories and news coverage.
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