City Council Looking into Ban on Downtown Panhandling

The Tampa City Council on Thursday voted to explore banning panhandling in downtown Tampa and Ybor City, in addition to near places like automated teller machines, sidewalk cafes and banks in the city, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Rules were also requested to restrict the storing of personal property in public places, urinating in public and sleeping in parks, on sidewalks or on public rights of way, the Times said.

In Hillsborough County, panhandling was banned on state or county roads in 2011.

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