Downtown residents want councilman to support panhandling restrictions

SALT LAKE CITY — Downtown residents say City Councilman Luke Garrott's opposition to a proposed law restricting panhandling doesn't reflect the will of his constituents.

Garrott, who represents much of downtown on the Salt Lake City Council, publicly has said he does not support a proposed ordinance that would regulate when, where and how people solicit donations in the city.

During a public hearing last week, a handful of downtown residents spoke in support of Mayor Ralph Becker's commercial solicitation ordinance, which would criminalize "aggressive panhandling."

And they urged Garrott to set aside his personal opposition and represent them with his vote.

"Luke, your constituents want you to support this legislation, and you need to step up," said Christian Harrison, chairman of the Downtown Community Council.

The City Council is scheduled to discuss and possibly vote on the ordinance Tuesday.

As proposed, the ordinance would prohibit people from asking others for money within 10 feet of specific areas, including sidewalk cafes or outdoor dining areas; places where people are lining up to purchase tickets or get into an event; bus or train stops; and ATMs.

It also would prohibit panhandling throughout the city after sunset and before sunrise. In addition, anyone who intimidates, threatens or causes "a reasonable person to fear bodily harm" when asking for donations would be in violation of the ordinance.

The class B misdemeanor would be punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

Garrott said he believes there are a lot of "heightened expectations" about what the ordinance would do.

At best, he said, the ordinance would "make beggars shut up downtown and carry signs."

"Is that what we really want to do? That's the question I'd like the council to take a good, hard look at," Garrott said.

Without an increased police presence, enforcement of the ordinance would be tricky. Police already have difficulty enforcing the half-dozen or so laws in place against aggressive behavior in Salt Lake City, he said, including disturbing the peace and loitering on sidewalks.

"It's really a choice about what we chose to enforce downtown, what the mayor and the City Council ask the police to do and provide resources for," Garrott said.