To: Mayor Nancy Vaughn
Mayor Vaughan: Don't criminalize homelessness!
Banning panhandling is essentially one step towards criminalizing homelessness. Those who find themselves transient typically suffer from mental illness or drug addiction, and even if they don't are typically faced with circumstances beyond their control.
Just because more affluent members of the community feel uncomfortable with the presence of homeless people does not give any sort of justification for restricting the liberties of those less fortunate. This is elitism of the worst kind. People should have a right to ask for financial assistance just as people have a right to decline to give money.
If we want to reduce panhandling, we should instead increase funding for programs that would provide alternative sources of assistance for those living in poverty.
Restrictions on panhandling represents an assault on the liberty of people in our community that need help more than anyone. We the undersigned voters of Greensboro, North Carolina, strongly urge you to reconsider your position on this issue.
Just because more affluent members of the community feel uncomfortable with the presence of homeless people does not give any sort of justification for restricting the liberties of those less fortunate. This is elitism of the worst kind. People should have a right to ask for financial assistance just as people have a right to decline to give money.
If we want to reduce panhandling, we should instead increase funding for programs that would provide alternative sources of assistance for those living in poverty.
Restrictions on panhandling represents an assault on the liberty of people in our community that need help more than anyone. We the undersigned voters of Greensboro, North Carolina, strongly urge you to reconsider your position on this issue.
Why is this important?
The rights and dignity of transient members of our community should not be repressed simply because some people feel uncomfortable with their presence. This is a civil rights issue.