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http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20100616/NEWS010702/306160008/

DOWNTOWN – The city of Cincinnati is about to face a legal challenge to its recently passed law against panhandling.

The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless plans to file a lawsuit in federal court Wednesday afternoon to try to block what they describe as an unconstitutional panhandling rule adopted earlier this month, according to Josh Spring, the group’s executive director.

Spring says he will outline his argument against the new rule during a 2 p.m. press conference Wednesday on the steps of the federal courthouse downtown at 100 E. Fifth St.

On June 3, Cincinnati City Council voted to require emergency shelters to have “clear and consistent consequences” for those who panhandle, Spring said in a prepared statement.

“Those who know about homeless shelters know the only real ‘consequence’ at a shelter is getting kicked out,” Spring wrote.

If shelters do not enforce these city policies, they will no longer be eligible to receive city and state funding literally all the funding public shelters currently receive, he notes.

He chalks the new rule up to a “larger political move” by council. He insists there are only about 16 people who currently panhandle downtown and they are not violent. The city already has a rule against aggressive panhandling.

“The new rules are a classic example of politicians creating a ‘problem’ so that they can create the ‘solution,’ Spring wrote.




I work right across the street from the freedom center. I see more then 16 pan handlers there everyday. There is more when the reds or bengals are playing this person needs to walk downtown more often.