Many city councillors say they're getting lots of phone calls, mainly about safety of people
The dangers of panhandling brought before St. Catharines city council Monday night.
City staff will look into a nuisance by-law on enforcement options, and how other cities are handling this, as problems persist especially on Fourth Avenue, and ramps to and from the 406 and QEW.
Councillor Kevin Townsend brought the idea forward, saying there have been close calls of people getting hit. "One resident reached out to me and said 'What would've happened had they hit this person, who would've been liable?' Would it have been the person driving the car, getting onto the on ramp, or would it have been the person? Most likely, it would've been the driver in that case."
Some councillors pointed out there are already provincial laws that make this illegal.
Councillor Jackie Lindal says it's not about restricting panhandling. "A lot of phone calls and emails I get, we have a couple of gentlemen on either end of the 406, and one that walks up and down the median between Glendale and the 406, under the overpass. They're not complaining about the panhandling, they're afraid someone's going to get hurt."
Councillor Robin McPherson suggested they wait for a Niagara Falls pilot project that has signs discouraging panhandling.
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