Panhandling Ordinance Shot Down by Oklahoma City Council

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Council voted down a plan to restrict panhandlers on city streets.

The ordinance would have banned people from soliciting in medians unless they had a permit. That would have affected the MDA's annual Fill the Boot Campaign, in which firefighters walk along the medians and in the streets gathering donations.

The council voted 4-4 on the ordinance. To pass, there had to be a majority.

"I try to be a logical person," said Councilwoman Meg Salyer. "And I can't understand how the city can enact a policy that says it's too dangerous for people to be in the median and the street, but then for a $200 permit allow them to do what we say is too dangerous."

The MDA said it was pleased with the council's decision because passing the ordinance would have cost the organization a large chunk of its donations.