Mandel suggested one model for the city to examine is the bylaw in Saskatoon, where coercive begging or putting the touch on anyone in a stopped vehicle or within 10 metres of a bus stop, bank or ATM can lead to fines of up to $10,000 for repeat offenders.Come on, Mr. Mayor. I expected better.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
mayor off the mark.
Now, I like Stephen Mandel, but what? fining panhandlers?
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Mayor Mandel has done enough pandering to left-leaning interests for one term (think poet laureate, for example).
ReplyDeleteI have the misfortune to live in a city where panhandlers are treated as causes rather than nuisances. The problem continues to get worse under the pacifist approach.
Its nice to see Stephen Mandel coming out on the side of common sense.
Fining panhandlers is a roundabout way of not addressing the root of the problem. Its reacting to a problem, not being proactive to prevent it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, fining panhandlers seems to ignore the purpose of panhandling.
Between this and his brain-dead corporate welfare scheme for Cal Nichols & Co., I'm about ready to vote for someone else.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm very surprised to find myself saying that.
I haven't been a fan of Mandel since he became an apologist for police violence last summer. I hope there's some good, genuinely progressive mayoral candidates this time around. Between Mandel and Bill Wingnutt, things aren't looking too good so far.
ReplyDeleteI voted for him and the city has gone to shit since. Drats! 23rd ave interchange, potholes, supporting Dinning, more taxes and high assessments, unfocused council, and now panhandlers. When's it going to end? City council needs a conservative not the string of liberals we've had.
ReplyDeleteHatrock, I think you're misinformed about Mayor Mandel's politics... he is a huge supporter of our provincial Conservative government.
ReplyDeleteIt was through his many connections with Ralph & Ed's team that Mr. Mandel was able get an order in council passed for the First Time Home Buyers program (a worthy idea, although one that has trampled the democratic process).
It's time for a crackdown on panhandling, especially of an aggressive nature. People of all stripes, rich or poor, homeless or not, need a serious reminder that you are not allowed to physically harass or intimidate another individual on our city's streets.
ReplyDeleteWhile I understand Dave's position that we need to address root causes of homelessness and panhandling, we also need to take care of the people that are still making this city work. Cracking down on the more aggressive panhandlers is a great idea and I'm proud that Mayor Mandel has come forward with it.
Do you know that regular panhandlers in downtown Calgary make 3000.00 a month, in cash and tax free?
ReplyDeleteThere are larger issues with this problem than just crying base poverty. Unchecked panhandling encourages some kids/people to live on the streets and then in turn their panhandling "profits" helps fuel the drug and sex trade (eventually leading them to a dangerous cycle of perpetual self abuse).
I learned this when I worked for AIDS Calgary as an outreach worker with the street kids. Until you actually walk into that world I am not sure you can actually understand it's problems. But it has nothing to do with politics.
Hey BR - I love the idea of a Poet Laurate. It is a civilizing force for good.
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