2008, 09-26 Final Report to Council (Panhandling)f�4
Panhandling Committee Final Report to Council
Sept. 26, 2008
Introduction
The Panhandling Committee was given the task of investigating panhandling, looking at
research and what other cities are doing, and give a recommendation to Council.
The Committee
The Panhandling Committee consisted of-
Bill Gothmann, Chair Connie Nelson
Rose Dempsey, Councilmember Joe Schutz
Maggie Crabtree Ian Robertson
Cathy Neet
We were ably assisted by Todd Babcock, Research Analyst of the City of Spokane.
Council Member Odin Langford from Liberty Lake was able to attend one of our
meetings, also.
The Committee met seven times: June 12, June 26, July 15, July 29, August 5, and
August 12. We heard from Spokane Valley Police, our Spokane Valley Attorney,
Spokane Valley Partners, and the City of Spokane. We also researched what other cities
are doing, and Department of Justice publications on panhandling.
Panhandling in Spokane Valley
1. First of all, panhandling is a protected act of free speech.
2. The typical panhandler is unemployed, unmarried, has a substance abuse problem
and is NOT homeless.
3. In general, homeless people do not panhandle and panhandlers are not homeless.
4. We heard that there is an 80/20 rule. That is, 80% of panhandlers do it to support
drug and alcohol habits, and 20% have genuine needs.
5. Some have mental problems
6. Many have criminal records. However, there are no funds to ship them back to
where warrants are outstanding.
7. Most choose to panhandle because it makes good economic sense to them
8. Panhandlers come to Spokane Valley via car or bus to panhandle because it is
more lucrative than other locations. They return to their homes at night. During
the day, they have flop areas where they rest and relax, resulting in mounds of
trash and human waste.
9. The area around Walmart is one of the most lucrative for panhandlers.
10. Spokane Valley receives Daily Police Service calls from businesses such as:
a. Toys R Us
b. Ross
c. The Strip mall at Wal -mart
d. The Manager of the Chevron near the Mirabeau Hotel
e. The Manager of Valley Mall
11. The Wal -mart location is such a valuable location that panhandlers work in shifts
under an informal agreement with each other. Unfortunately, since the population
of panhandlers is under the influence, the informal protocol is frequently violated,
resulting in many fights and officer calls to the location.
EXAMPLE OF A PANHANDLER: Charlie
Charlie is a White male, a convicted felon with a long record having four
outstanding warrants, one of which is an outstanding felony. He also has a
felony Department of Corrections escape warrant. He is a life long
alcoholic and lives at the Red Lion Inn in Spokane. Sometimes he lives
with his wife in the West central Neighborhood. He has a solicitor's
license from Spokane that enables him to sell things on the street. He calls
his "enterprise" "Cardboard Expressions." He takes the STA to Spokane
Valley to panhandle where3 he claims to earn $30 -45 per hour. To quote
him, "All the pretty women in their 30's and 40's give me $20 bills."
The Solution
The solution to panhandling is three -fold:
1. Examine ordinances to give police the tools they need for enforcement
2. Be sure to provide links to social services for those with genuine needs
3. Provide a community education program to discourage citizens from giving to
panhandlers and encourage them to give to causes that provide genuine help to
those in need.
Ordinances
Present laws make it illegal to aggressively panhandle. Unfortunately, when such a case
occurs, police are called and the victim usually does not press charges, and police are
forced to release the offender.
Present laws also prohibit interference with traffic. However, the offender usually
ignores the ticket. Property owners also can prohibit panhandling on their own property.
Police have arrested panhandlers claiming to be veterans when they were not.