COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The city of Colorado Springs already has an Aggressive Panhandling ordinance that prohibits solicitors from asking for money, on private property, within 20 feet of an ATM, and from using profane language but downtown businesses have said it isn't enough.
Small business owners complaining to the mayor of customers being harassed by solicitors because the current city code doesn't handle the problem. The Downtown Partnership and several local stores in favor of a "No Solicitation Zone" that would prohibit all forms of solicitation including charitable donations.
The proposed zone would focus on the downtown core and include Acacia park and the sidewalk of the Penrose Pikes Peak Library.
In a presentation to city council Colorado Springs Police Chief Pete Carey reminded the audience the people asking for money are not homeless, they're professionals that use the money for drugs and alcohol not food and shelter.
Twenty locals voiced their opinions on the ordinance including a group of people from the Westside of town that fear the proposal could push the problem into their part of town.
Despite their concerns, city council voted 8-1 in favor of the "No Solicitation Zone". A second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for Nov. 27th and if it passes again, the ordinance would go into effect Dec. 2nd.
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