I think we have a terrific ordinance for panhandling, allowing for reasonable rights but not allowing for bad behavior - both cases you mention would appear to violate it. Police need to know about this stuff, otherwise it increases:

9-5-31: PANHANDLING:

(A) Definition:

PANHANDLING: Any solicitation made in person upon any street, public place or park in the city, in which a person requests an immediate donation of money or other gratuity from another person, and includes, but is not limited to, seeking donations:

1. By vocal appeal or for music, singing, or other street performance; and

2. Where the person being solicited receives an item of little of no monetary value in exchange for a donation, under circumstances where a reasonable person would understand that the transaction is in substance a donation.

However, panhandling shall not include the act of passively standing or sitting or performing music, singing or other street performance with a sign or other indication that a donation is being sought, without any vocal request other than in response to an inquiry by another person.

(B) Panhandling Prohibited:

1. It shall be unlawful to engage in an act of panhandling when the person being solicited is located in a sidewalk cafe, in a public transportation vehicle, or in a public transportation facility.

2. It shall be unlawful to engage in an act of panhandling when either the panhandler or the person being solicited is located at any of the following locations: at a bus stop; in any public transportation vehicle or public transportation facility; in a vehicle which is parked or stopped on a public street or alley; in a sidewalk cafe, or within twenty feet (20') in any direction from an automated teller machine or entrance to a bank.

(C) Aggressive Panhandling Prohibited: It shall be unlawful to engage in an act of panhandling in an aggressive manner. A person's manner is aggressive if the person engages in any of the following actions:

1. Panhandling a person who is standing at an automated teller machine while located within ten feet (10') of that person.

2. Panhandling a person who is standing at an automated teller machine while the person is standing at the machine and within fifteen (15) seconds after the person begins to leave the machine.

3. Repeating a panhandling request when the person solicited is stationary and has refused an immediately prior request made at that location. Examples of a person who is stationary include, but are not limited to:

a. Someone waiting in line, at a bus stop, or for a traffic signal, or

b. Someone seated on a public bench or in a car parked or stopped in a public street or alley.

4. At any time immediately before, during, or after the panhandling request, touching the solicited person without that person's consent.

5. Panhandling while blocking the path of the person solicited or the entrance to any building or vehicle.

6. Following behind, alongside, or ahead of the person solicited during or after the panhandling request.

7. Directing profane or abusive language at the person solicited at any time immediately before, during, or after panhandling.

8. Immediately before, during, or after panhandling, making any statement other than the panhandling request or acting in any other manner which, in light of the circumstances taken as a whole, i.e., darkness, would cause a reasonable person to feel harassed, intimidated, or compelled to contribute.

(D) Penalty: Each act of panhandling prohibited by this section shall constitute a public nuisance and a separate violation of this code and is punishable by a fine, or community service. (Ord. 131-0-00)

Edited by author 09-20-2008 02:23 PM
Hey Michele - how about using links when stuff is this long. I can assure you that a "terrific ordinance" is not very effective in this case.

I like the part about fining a panhandler. What is the last community service assignment given.

People support panhandlers and therefore it continues.

Sorry, I'd be happy to link, but I'm not sure how to link to a specific ordinance - however, I won't make as long a post next time.

Another reason the ordinance isn't effective is that people don't call police on this kind of activity - though I agree completely that misplaced generousity is the real problem. When I worked at Border's we had a lot of success working with the police to address specific problems with this issue - didn't stop panhandling but did reduce abusive behaviors.

Michelle,

I didn't think that post was too long. It's been a long time since I read that and it was valuable. Since I now know that it is illegal to panhandle in a trasportation facility, I think that next time I will got to the CTA staff in the station and ask what their procedures are and when the call the cops. I wonder if the CTA staff at the seven different stations in Evanston are aware of this ordinance. Or if perhaps the police could print out a "poster" of it that could be posted in the stations?

Edited by author 09-20-2008 06:20 PM
candace - the chamber, the city, evmark, businesses have all been involved in controlling panhandling. When you get an officer out - they will move the offender.

Complaining does no good. I think posts such as entire ordinances are too long. That is why we have links.

On a more friendly note, a friend of mine from my North Carolina days is performing at Bill's Blues on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. $10 cover for two sets. If you like sophisticated folk music this would be the venue for you. If you want a sample of her work, check out www.sallyspring.com. If you're a hippy at heart, she'll snag your heart! 1029 Davis Street, hope to see you there.

Glad to see the construction on Oakton Street across from Home Depot. But what a mess outside the fence.

On today's bike ride past the site, we saw outside the temporary fence:
  
-- many, many little boards with rusty nails sticking out of them (a hazard for small children, dogs on leashes, and anyone who loses their balance in the wrong place);

-- lots of trash (with a large number of crushed plastic water bottles and crumpled small utility-marking flags);

-- water hoses on the sidewalk (a tripping hazard for those with limited mobility and probably for anyone in a wheelchair); and
 
-- a small construction barricade in the sidewalk (again, a hazard for those with limited mobility or in a wheelchair).

I know that there's a construction site on the other side of the fence. But it's unfortunate that such an unsightly mess and a hazard exists right next to the public sidewalk.

To whom do I speak at the City of Evanston to ask the contractor to spend 30 minutes once a week to keep the area near the sidewalk safe and free of trash?

Just wondering if there are any updates on Farmers Best. I haven't noticed any activity there lately so I was just curious.

Edited by author 09-21-2008 11:17 PM
Karen - Our building department will be on the Oakton mess tomorrow and I will report to the developer.

Meghan at our last council meeting we had some housekeeping http://www.cityofevanston.org/government/m...8-9-08-ccagenda.pdf see P2 under planning and development

P2) * Ordinance 98-O-08 Request to Amend the Conditions on a Special Use with Related Major Variations at 430 Asbury Avenue (“Farmer’s Best Market”)

Ald Hansen and I are meeting with the owners on Wednesday afternoon for a status report. I will let everyone know the latest.

Thanks, Ann.

The developer has responded that the Oakton site will be cleaned up.

Karen reminds me about another mess on Oakton, directly across the street from the constuction site where the new Salvation Army offices will go. Last time I went by, there hadn't been any yard work for a loooong time in the yard or the parkway and the weeds were very high and hard for a bike rider to get through.

If you love opera, but can't afford to go to the Lyric more than once or twice a year (or decade) I can highly recommend the HD digital transmission of the Metropolitan Opera from New York to our own Evanston Theatres. The Bike Gent and I had an incredible evening enjoying a performance of Renee Fleming in the opening night gala performing scenes from three operas, with all sorts of really fun features of the back stage work during the intermissions.

Go to www.metopera.org to learn more. There will be seven or eight more performances this season, about one a month, and the line-up looks wonderful. The theatre we were in was nearly filled to capacity, and you can buy your tickets in advance at the box office and not have to pay a "Fandango" premium.

It was a really magical evening, and because I had two cups of coffee (and a nice light supper) at the bar, I'm going to be up for awhile longer tonight .. .

Ann -- I never thought it was coming from the West, but my neighbor who heard something did. It always seemed like it was from the South and/or East. For a while I thought it might be from the new apt building construction on Howard St near the "el" station.

As for the sound being something like a/c's running -- I hardly heard it this summer. It started last October, was quiet for about a month in the late winter, and then disappeared almost completely until a few weeks ago.

I'll see what I can do about driving around when I hear it and have the time. It would be nice to finally identify the source and get it to stop!

RABID BAT Warning

The city of chicago is warning neighbors that a rabid bat was found near 7515 N Winchester (Callan in Evanston) this Saturday, Sept. 20.

The city advises that residents keep their dogs and cats on a leash when out of doors. (Remember to keep your pets' vaccination current.)

If you find a dead bat or other wild animal (including pigeons) do NOT pick them up, in Chicago call 311 for Animal Control. Be sure to mention the city's advisory.

That brings us back to the skunks. Here is a link to an article from the Center for Disease Control in 2006 about rabies in bats and skunks in Arizona. The article could be helpful to Evanston.

This quote is found under "The Study " area of the article.

"Control measures included prohibiting relocation of nuisance skunks, comprehensive public education, pet rabies vaccine clinics, and a 90-day emergency quarantine requiring pets to be leashed or confined and vaccinated (Figure 1). "


http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no08/05-1526.htm