Asbury Park says aggressive panhandling is 'embarrassing,' so the city banned it

NJ.com Advanced Media ^ | October 29, 2018

[SMGFan]

Asbury Park's waterfront development boom and the revitalization of its downtown retail and restaurant district has drawn investors, shoppers and diners with cash to spare.

But, city officials and community leaders agree, those folks have attracted less prosperous people who are sometimes desperate for cash and not always bashful about asking for it.

So last month, the City Council adopted a ban on what it officially labeled "aggressive panhandling." The new law, which went into effect last week, was criticized by advocates for the poor and is being monitored by civil libertarians.

Violators of the begging ban are subject to fines ranging from $100 to $2,000, plus community service or jail time for repeat offenders.

[SMGFan]

Fine people $100 to $2000? They will need to go to NYC to pan handle to pay that.

[IC Ken]

re> officially labeled "aggressive panhandling

In other cities this is called a mugging

[Ancesthntr]

Paging San Francisco, Paging San Francisco. Please go to the nearest courtesy phone for an important call.

[ObozoMustGo2012]

They need to extend these laws to the panhandling soccer and cheerleader teams that cover the entrances of every convenience store and supermarket with their coffee cans begging for money. A very poor example to set for kids.

[NEMDF]

OTOH, Jail Time might remove their need for daily cash.

[CondorFlight]

Please extend this law to cover streetcorners, where drivers are held fast in their cars until the light changes,
and may be besieged by more than one “unfortunate” person...

[bgill]

Sometimes, panhandling is a very profitable business. they live in nice houses and drive BMW.

[JimRed]

Asbury Park is heavily infested with homosexuals as well.

[jmacusa]

Yeah but actually there’s more of them next door in Ocean Grove, a Methodist enclave of Victorian homes. Say what you will about the homos, they do have bucks to spend and fix up the neighborhood.

[wally_bert]

I know a guy who gave a few bucks to a panhandler that later passed him in a nice BMW.

[ridesthemiles]

IF you are so certain that this kind of panhandling is so wonderful-—please give that bum YOUR home address & let them work your front yard & sidewalk.

[Mase]

When I used to frequent Asbury Park back in the late 70’s, panhandling was rare because they'd be victims of armed robbery like everyone else. Panhandling may be a problem today, but AP is a far better place than it was a few decades ago.

[JimRed]

Yep. The homosexual “couples” are DINKS...Dual Income, No KidS.