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It’s not a problem unique to Spokane Valley, so the City Council will reach out to its colleagues in other local governments.
The issue of panhandling got a hard look Tuesday night, as committee members charged with looking into the matter gave their report to the rest of the council.
Council Member Bill Gothmann, chairman of the committee, told the council that those scruffy-looking, card-carrying folks at busy intersections in Spokane Valley have been defecating and “flopping” in trash bins behind businesses, frightening and causing problems for shopkeepers.
“This is what’s going on in the city right now,” Gothmann said.
The committee – which also included Council Member Rose Dempsey and other community members – met seven times and met with law-enforcement officials, lawyers and social service agencies charged with assisting the homeless or those suffering from substance-abuse problems. But Gothmann said the “typical” panhandler is all too regularly the latter and rarely the former.
Police estimate that “closer to 90 percent” of those begging in the city – and there are between 30 and 50 of them – have homes but are alcoholics or addicted to some other drug. Asking money from strangers, Gothmann said, is their profession.
“This is their job,” he said. “And if we make their job easy on them, they’ll keep coming back.”
Gothmann gave an example of “Charlie,” a lifelong alcoholic who has been making regular bus trips via Spokane Transit Authority from his home at the Red Lion hotel in downtown Spokane for some time. He stakes out his corner, has a solicitor’s license (“Cardboard Expressions”) and makes between $30 and $40 an hour in Spokane Valley. He told police that “all the pretty women in their 30s and 40s give me 20-dollar bills.”
Since competition is fierce at key corners along the Sullivan Road corridor – especially between the Spokane Valley Mall and Wal-Mart – police often have to break up fights among beggars. There have also been incidents where overly aggressive panhandlers have blocked traffic or got into the cars of potential “givers.”
“It does happen and it is happening in Spokane Valley,” Gothmann said.
While there are laws already in place that prohibit the obstruction of the movement of cars and trespassing in posted area, the Constitution protects panhandling as free speech. However, the committee recommends greater restrictions by having the city pass laws that would prevent panhandling within 100 feet of ATMs, bus stops, traffic signals or freeway entrances. It also suggests more restrictive laws than the existing state’s that prohibit public drunkenness.
Gothmann also suggested the city look at passing a law that would prevent motorists and passengers from giving cash to panhandlers while in a traffic lane. Drivers would have to turn into a parking lot or other area to make a “contribution.”
Although supported by the majority of the council, the provision didn’t sit well with Dempsey, who said it was “not American” to punish those who would try to help someone else.
“If you hold out your arm out of the car and there happens to be a bill in your hand and someone takes it, I can’t see where that’s a problem,” she said.
But Gothmann said giving money to panhandlers was simply enabling their pre-existing dependency issues and that “80 to 90 percent” of every dollar goes toward alcohol or drugs.
“It’s far better to give that money to Spokane Valley Partners or another group who can actually do something to help them,” he said.
Gothmann also suggested a “wooden nickel” program where faux change could be given to panhandlers that could be redeemed for food, shelter or clothing at social service agencies
Council members directed city staff to begin developing a possible ordinance or set of laws encompassing Gothmann’s suggestions. While the city of Spokane is developing its own panhandling laws, council members also suggested that committee members take their message to other governments and the media to better inform them of the issue.
“It’s a region-wide problem,” Gothmann said.
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By
Mike Huffman
