Homeless Ordinance, Round Two

Last time Mayor Ashton Hayward lobbed such a proposed ordinance onto the table, citizens referred to the effort as “sick,” “bonkers” and “immoral and very, very sad.” Pensacola City Council members called it “too broad,” “unconstitutional” and “absolutely, quite frankly, disgusting.”

Today, Hayward hands council three similar proposed ordinances to consider. One prohibits sleeping outside; another prohibits washing, shaving and other activities in city-owned public restrooms; the third targets what the ordinance describes as “aggressive solicitation, begging or panhandling.”

Such proposals last came council’s way in late 2011. A collection of citizens, homeless advocates, Occupy Pensacola campers and religious organizations cried foul, arguing that the ordinance targeted the area’s homeless population.

“We weep with them every week,” Joshua Wallnofer, head of Klondike Baptist Church, told the city council at that time, adding that the proposal would only relocate or worsen the homeless situation. “That’s the best that this will do—pass on pain and problems. At worst, it will contribute to their demise.”

The 2011 discussion culminated with the threatened removal of Father Nathan Monk, a local homeless advocate. Then-council president Sam Hall requested police officers remove Monk, considering his comments inappropriate. The move triggered other council members to walk out and resulted in a brief moment of Youtube fame for the city.

“This council would have arrested Mary and Joseph this time of year,” Monk said, heading into the Christmas season. “And then you would have called DCF and had the Christ Child hauled off.”

This year, City Administrator Bill Reynolds has been prepping council for the return of such proposals. In January, he sent an email to members relaying the concerns of a woman who said she was frightened when a man approached her vehicle as she prepared to enter Jewelers Trade; he asked for money and made the woman feel “like I was in New Orleans.”

“I was afraid it was an attempted car jacking,” the woman wrote, “and got out and ran across the street, almost getting hit by a car.”

Reynolds noted at that time that he still considered the issue a concern and hoped to restart the conversation with council.

“I have continued to watch the homeless criminal element in the city commit violations,” Reynolds wrote to council, “and have been personally accosted by an aggressive homeless gentleman coming out of Jackson’s one night.”

The city council will consider these three proposed ordinances today during its Committee of the Whole meeting. The meeting begins at 3:15 p.m. at Pensacola City Hall.