Miami Approves Panhandling Ban For Downtown
MIAMI (CBS4) - Homeless men and women have called Downtown Miami home for decades, but now that a renaissance of sorts is under, they will have to find a new place to gather.
Thursday afternoon, Miami city commissioners passed a law making it illegal to beg around key downtown Miami landmarks like the American Airlines Arena, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and Miami-Dade College's Wolfson campus.
The Downtown Development Authority proposed the anti-panhandling measure to the commission two weeks. The DDA was responsible for pitching a successful anti-panhandling ordinance for much of the Brickell area.
Miami Police dealt with the problem the night the Miami Heat had their home debut. Reports obtained by CBS4's David Sutta verified what police told us off camera: more than 150 people were carted off in handcuffs for mental illness and drunkenness.
As a point of comparison, one year ago, there were just 37 people picked up for the same reason that week.
Homeless advocates believe the homeless shouldn't have been targeted because they say it will only succeed in putting more homeless people in jail.
"We do not support any type of criminalization of those who are experience homelessness or poverty. It's not a solution that is going to eradicate homelessness and poverty," said Rita Clarkman with the Miami Coalition for the Homeless.
Miami Police Chief Miguel Exposition has a different perspective.
"Ever since I became chief, that has been one of the things that I've wanted to get accomplished," Chief Exposito said. "We want the streets to be clean."
The arrests of people around downtown when the Heat made their debut were part of a program before the game called, "Get It Done."
"The Get It Done task force was put in place to put Miami in a good light," said Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff. "To show that we have a vibrant, active downtown. If you're suggesting that there was some people that were drunk or there was some people that were mentally unstable, there is nothing inappropriate about getting them help."
It was standing room only during the commission hearing, but opponents argued the city is making a major mistake.
"I think it's a crime in itself," said Constance Collins.
