Valdosta looks to draft panhandling law - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Valdosta looks to draft panhandling law

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March 20, 2008

Valdosta - Panhandling is becoming a noticeable problem but currently there are no laws on the books to keep them off the streets.

But Mayor John Fretti hopes to change that.

He says the City Council will begin looking into an ordinance that will address the growing number of panhandlers seen around the city.

He says whatever they pass will issue violations to panhandlers after several warnings as well as introduce them to outreach and social service programs available in the community.

"It achieves two results. One it would get them some help that they truly need and two it would get them out of the visual, overt areas that they are in and perhaps inconveniencing some of our citizens," Mayor Fretti says.

The panhandling initiative was laid out by city council in their annual retreat.

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