A federal judge has struck down Alabama laws against panhandling, ruling that the statues are unconstitutional.
Central Alabama Community Foundation has partnered with the City of Montgomery and the Montgomery County Commission to create the ‘Give Smart Montgomery’ giving initiative.
Some Montgomery City council members are addressing safety concerns involving panhandlers. This is not about the legality of panhandling, the main concern from some city officials is the possibility of traffic accidents due to people soliciting goods or services on the sides of major roads and highways.
One man is using his lunch break to educate those on the difference between a homeless person and professional panhandler. You may have seen Patrick Aitken on the corner of Ann Street beside the interstate wearing a t-shirt and hat that reads “Homeless Lives Matter” and passing out ice cold bottles of water. “I tell you within the first hour…
“Blatantly Unconstitutional,” that’s what the Southern Poverty Law Center has to say about the Montgomery City Council’s ordinance criminalizing panhandling. In a letter to Mayor Todd Strange, the SPLC says the ordinance unfairly punishes people who are living in poverty and violates the first amendment. Senior Staff Attorney Micah West says there are moral and constitutional concerns. “Courts across the…
