ALBUQUERQUE’S PANHANDLING ORDINANCE COULD GO THROUGH SOME CHANGES AT MONDAY NIGHT’S CITY COUNCIL MEETING. COUNCILOR TRUDY JONES SAYS THE ORDINANCE CANNOT BE CONSIDERED A PANHANDLING BAN … AND SAYS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO KEEP ALBUQUERQUE SAFE.
HER AMENDMENTS WOULD OUTLAW THE HOMELESS FROM APPROACHING DRIVERS FROM MEDIANS, SIDEWALKS AND INTERSTATE OFF RAMPS. MEANWHILE, THE ACLU OF NEW MEXICO LAWYER MARIA MARTINEZ-SANCHEZ TELLS KOB THE ORDINANCE NOW ON THE BOOKS IS FOCUSED ON GETTING HOMELESS PEOPLE ALONG WITH LOW-INCOME EARNERS AND PEOPLE SOLICITING PUBLIC DONATIONS AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC.
THE ACLU FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE ORDINANCE IN FEDERAL COURT.
