New ban on panhandling

Amid a nationwide homelessness crisis, various cities and states are proposing bans on panhandling in traffic medians, citing public safety as a primary concern. Notable efforts include New Mexico's Democratic governor proposing a statewide ban, along with Wilmington, North Carolina, which passed a similar ordinance, while Jacksonville, Florida, faces a lawsuit from homeless advocates over its panhandling law. Despite court rulings affirming that soliciting money is a form of free speech, backers of these bans argue they enhance pedestrian safety, a claim disputed by opponents who report a lack of evidence supporting such measures. Cities like Oklahoma City and Albuquerque are exploring alternative solutions by offering cleanup jobs to panhandlers. The debate has intensified due to increased pedestrian fatalities and visible begging on the streets since the pandemic. These developments follow a precedent set in Sandy City, Utah, where a federal appeals court upheld a law against median solicitation, a decision the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review.