Panhandling Ordinance Could Derail OKC Firefighters' Fill the Boot Drive

On Tuesday the Oklahoma City Council will consider a revision to the panhandling ordinance that some fear will derail the firefighters' annual "Fill the Boot" campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Monday, August 30th 2010, 8:00 pm

By: News 9


By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- On Tuesday the Oklahoma City Council will consider a revision to the panhandling ordinance that some fear will derail the firefighters' annual "Fill the Boot" campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Constitutionally, you can't outlaw panhandling, but you can regulate it. Council member Meg Salyer said the problem of panhandlers soliciting from the medians is growing and poses a safety hazard.

"I've gotten so many phone calls from concerned citizens about the increased number and increased number of locations where people are panhandling from our medians," said Salyer.

The new ordinance would ban solicitations from medians. But Oklahoma City firefighters use the median for their Memorial Day fundraising campaign.

"It would adversely affect me in such ways as clinic visits where I can see the respiratory therapist, physical therapist, dietitian right there in one spot," said Muscular Dystrophy patient Debra Lusk.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association counts on the firefighters' drive for a fourth of its funding.

"In other cities where ordinances like this have passed, it has decreased our 'Fill the Boot' collection by up to 75 percent," said MDA Executive Director Andrea Pope.

The MDA and firefighters will speak to the city council Tuesday in hopes of a compromise.

Under the proposed ordinance, firefighters could still stand on the side of the road or on sidewalks when soliciting.

Council member Meg Salyer said there have been discussions about holding the "Fill the Boot" campaign in the future in the parking lots of Walmart or Target.

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