Controversial median ban passes in St. Pete

ST. PETERSBURG -- The City Council approved a measure today banning solicitation in public medians. Under the ordinance, just standing in a median would be banned unless you are crossing the street.

Mayor Rick Baker and Assistant Police Chief Luke Williams urged the council to approve the measure, which will affect charities, panhandlers, political campaigns, newspaper vendors, free speech advocates and others who depend on the medians for business or personal use.

"I'm hopeful that we can keep people from going in the road," Baker said. "To me, it's a safety issue."

But opponents said the measure violates a person's civil rights and vowed to challenge it.

"We are disappointed," said Rick Pauley, vice president of the St. Petersburg Association of Firefighters, which holds annual "Fill the Boot" campaigns for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. "It's going to severely limit our ability to collect donations."

The St. Petersburg Times, which hires hawkers to sell the newspaper in medians, sent representatives to the meeting to oppose the measure. The newspaper's attorney, Tom Reynolds, said the measure violates the First Amendment.

The vote was 7-1. Council member Wengay Newton cast the lone no vote.

Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

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Comments

[Kenneth]

Thank God! This had gotten way out of control in the last couple of months. On any given Saturday afternoon, you can find four bums at the corner of Gandy and 4th - one at each end, with others waiting to take their place. And these questionable charities ("Donate to homeless children!") were getting really pushy - walking in front of cars after the light turned.

Good job city council and Mayor Baker!

[Julie]

Bye Bye bums blowing cigarette smoke into my car as I wait at the stoplights on Tyrone Blvd. & Park Street! Now if you can just find a way to roust them out from under EVERY overpass on the Pinellas Trail, my daily bike ride will look and smell better too!

[Martin]

Why not make it by permit only? That way they can approve each individual case. I happily contribute to the firefighters and occasionally buy a Sunday Times via median vendors. What needs to be limited is the begging and distraction caused by individuals, and the unsafe fundraising by kids for sports teams.

This measure prevents private commercial enterprises like the St. Petersburg Times from enriching themselves by using public lands without a permit or permission.

It also prevents any fool with a bucket from standing at my wife's driver's side window, tapping on the glass, insisting she donate to the charity du jour.

In addition, it removes the homeless from our intersections, if you're well enough to walk out to 22nd Ave N and panhandle, you're well enough to walk to Manpower and pick up a day labor job.

I fully support the city's efforts, and absolutely stand against any effort the Times makes to circumvent my rights as a taxpayer.

[Thom]

This is a major safety issue that's finally being addressed. I would think the firefighters would be behind it. A street corner works just as well for hawking, panning or asking for donations. At least you wouldn't be standing between two lanes of cars speeding in opposite directions. There's already too many distractions on the road.

[David]

Not only does this address the safety issue, it prevents harrassment of drivers by beggars, whether they be bums or claim to be with a charity.

Safety issue my A S S..

"...panhandlers, political campaigns..."

Just in time for Ray’s playoffs focusing national attention the area... and just in time for a political campaign season that is ripe for Republican demise.

Safety issue… you pinheads would buy a bucket of sand while standing in a freaking desert… Safety issue… what a bunch of malleable mooks.

David, and other on this blog of your ilk… I pray one day that those “beggars” (also known as firefighters) don’t have to break down your door and save you miserable trunk from a house fire that started when you fell asleep boning a fattie of some good elitist gange!

[Rebecca]

I doubt safety was the driving force. I am sure it was meant to get rid of bums and other questionable people begging for money, which I agree with whole-heartedly. Martin's suggestion of making it allowable with a permit would allow the newspapers and fire fighters some leeway.

[OJay]

about time. I hated watching kids in the middle of the street with some buckets for basketball, football, cheerleading, you name the sport....

[Fuber]

Thank you city council!!! I must admit tho, I will miss the Beef O' Brady leprechauns.

Now, if St. Pete can only make it illegal for thugs to shoot people on the streets of St. Pete…. Cause, ya know… “it’s a safety thing”

... dopes

[Tramor]

Thank you City Council. Now if we can only get the Council and the Codes Department to enforce/remove illegal snipe and campaign signs in the ROW.

[Tramor]

Anytime you see someone illegally in the median, including the St. Petersburg Times, please take a picture of the person and mail it to the City Council and the Police Department. This ordinance is only enforceable if the Police actually see the person in the median. Make sure your picture includes a good face shot so that trespass warnings may be issued.

[Dr_Dug]

Thank you... Thank you.....Thank you..Finally. Get these bums away from cars before they get hit and try to sue a working man!!

[Pete]

I hate being asked for money any way, anyhow, any day of the week and on any street corner or otherwise. Money is far too hard to come by for this state employee to be giving it away to anybody, charitable organization or beggar or pestering children with buckets trying to fund some sort of sports activity. Let your parents pay for your sports; get a job to pay for your own food; let people buy their newspapers in stores like they used to; and let the charities wait until we have extra money to spend before they go begging it from us day in and day out. You are bleeding us dry.

[a Corporate Risk Manager]

It appears that Wengay Newton is the only City Council member who understands the Constitution of the United State of America.

Unless the Mayor and City Council can support the "safety issue" with actual injuries that have occurred when automobiles have jumped the medium, there is no “safety issue”. It is clearly a civil liberties issue!

Whooo hooooo... let's get rid of the jews and darkies next!

BANG-O-RANG, 2:00!

So I take it that if Tricky Rick spots a violator in the median, he’ll send the Baker Box-cutter Gang out to slash their collection boots!

Lookout Fire Fighters… we’ll teach you to help others!

[kevin]

Safety Issue? NO WAY
To make it safer you allow the use of the median; taking away the median makes for more work from the sides and a less-safe result.
What is your motive?

[Lee]

I am pretty liberal, but see enough homeless on your way home and you'd be happy to see this pass too. I'm not going to pretend to care about our homeless around Tyrone Mall.
I've seen them throw away food given to them, and walk right into a gas station and buy beer---not even across the street to a grocery where it's cheaper and they could also get food.

[TT]

It's about time. It is a distraction for me when I am driving and people are standing in the median soliciting. And with some I can be somewhat fearful, especially when I am driving my motor scooter. There are enough things to watch for already while driving. They can practice their freedom of speech on the side of the road. They have no business being in the road or median unless they are crossing the street and then they should be in the cross walk. Way to go Rick Baker !

[Edward]

Could we PLEASE get something similar enacted in Hillsborough... this nonsense really has gotten out of hand the last year or so.