Tuesday’s election may resuscitate the effort to ban panhandling.
Three new Tampa City Council members said Wednesday they support a ban.
The fourth new member, Frank Reddick, said he does not. Returning members Charlie Miranda and Yvonne Yolie Capin have consistently voted against one.
The apparent deciding vote, Mary Mulhern, was one of two members to vote for a partial ban last month. But on Wednesday, she was noncommittal.
“It really is going to depend on what’s reported to us, what’s proposed,” she said. “My ears are always open.”
The new council’s split stance should bring hope to supporters of a ban. The current council delayed the issue for months, only to finally defeat a partial ban by a 5-2 vote.
New members Mike Suarez and Lisa Montelione said they would couple an all-out ban with aid for those affected, such as housing and jobs.
“This is not just a plan to hide the homeless,” said Suarez, who won the District 1 citywide seat Tuesday. “It truly is about public safety and protecting those folks out there.” Continue reading Jack Nicas’ storyhere.
