Verbal panhandling restricted in downtown Lawrence
By BECCA HARSCH
LAWRENCE, Kan. (March 25) - One thing is notably different about Lawrence's downtown nightlife this season:
there are no panhandlers asking the public for money. At least there shouldn't be according to city code.
The City of Lawrence amended the city code on panhandling in December that prohibited unlawful
panhandling after local merchants brought forth concerns. The ordinance was revised to place emphasis on
restricting verbal panhandling during the nighttime hours, rather than simply prohibiting unlawful panhandling.
The revisions were made to restrict verbal panhandling during the nighttime hours in a confined area of
downtown Lawrence. The ordinance describes the restricted act of panhandling as any verbal request for an
immediate donation of money. The city amended the code because the public may view panhandling during
nighttime hours more intimidating than during the daytime.
While some may view panhandling during the nighttime as threatening, Chelsea Sprecker, Topeka junior, said
it depends on the nature of the panhandler.
"I think it's fine as long as they are not too pushy for your money," Sprecker said.
The downtown area the ordinance refers to restricts the following area: south of 6th Street, west of New
Hampshire Street, north of 11th Street, and east of Vermont Street. A map of the city sidewalks shows where the
restrictions are placed in downtown Lawrence.
Panhandlers are restricted from verbal panhandling downtown from sunset to sunrise. This ordinance
includes the restriction of buskers, commonly known as musicians or artists who perform in public for money.
Sprecker said that busking shouldn't be prohibited because it's causing no damage or harm to anyone.
"At least they are out working and trying to make some money," Sprecker said.
But causing damage and harm to the public is what the city is trying to prevent with the ordinance.
Fritz-Gerald Esperance, local disc jockey and musician, said that by forbidding musicians to play downtown
takes away from the culture of downtown Lawrence. There should be a place where local musicians can gather and
play during the nighttime hours downtown, Esperance said.
The city wanted to make a verbal request for money during the nighttime an illegal act, although decided to see
how things go with the current ordinance before enforcing more severe regulations on the issue.
According to the Community Commission on Homelessness, "there needs to be a commitment to working
together to address nuisance behaviors such as panhandling. There needs to be a way to work together to assemble
information or ordinance information, as well as to report what other communities are doing."
Larger cities nationwide are expecting to see more buskers and panhandlers filling their streets as the economy
goes downhill. A notable busker and household name is Robert Burck, commonly known as the Naked Cowboy,
who plays regularly in Times Square of New York City. Burck currently has two record deals, according to
MySpace.
city sidewalks: HYPERLINK "http://www.ci.lawrence.ks.us/map/sidewalks/SidewalkMap09242006.pdf" http://www.ci.lawrence.ks.us/map/sidewalks/SidewalkMap09242006.pdf
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/nycnakedcowboy
