Panhandling Ordinance Passes After Brief Discussion

The Gig Harbor City Council members approved the panhandling ordinance with a 6-1 vote. Councilman Ken Malich was the opposing vote.

The new ordinance will prohibit panhandling on public roadways including sidewalks, highways, medians and other public right-of-way within the city. Violators could face as many as 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for each offense. 

During the second reading of the ordinance Monday night, Malich empathized with those soliciting for food and money by the road.

"I think we have to allow these people to panhandle. We haven't given any other social options. Our society hasn't worked them in any possible way. They can't feed themselves other than charity. If they don't get food and charity, then they are out of luck," he said. "They they need their money somehow. I'm against it." 

Councilmen Derek Young and Tim Payne supported the ordinance because of the recent spike in criminal activities that Police Mike Davis addressed at the May 9 council meeting. .

"Certainly this is not, for me, some way of cleaning up our streets. It is an issue of the violence and crime that has come with this wave of panhandling," said Payne. "And the fact that we've had a number of document cases where it's a group of panhandlers who are moving from one community to another. I think there are a number of organizations, Tacoma Rescue Mission being one of the foremost, in taking care of those in our community here that are indigent.

"I know that living on Pioneer for the years that I did, I had at least four, if not five, incidents where people came up and asked for a sandwich or for some food and I was more than willing to do that," Davis continued. "For me this is the fact that our police department has asked for this as a result of the criminal activity that has gone on, and yes, we could arrest them for the crime. But I believe that we need to eliminate the source before it becomes a crime, so I will be supporting this."

While Councilman Jim Franich also joined Young and Payne in the majority, he did express his reservations.

"I will be supporting this very reluctantly. I see this as a freedom issue. If nobody stopped to give anybody any money than we wouldn't have this issue," said Franich.

The new ordinance still allows nonprofit organizations to solicit donations, but they must first apply for a Special Event Permit through the city. The ordinance goes into effect June 6.