Number of panhandling issues raised at recent Niagara Falls council meeting
Concerns about aggressive panhandling were discussed at last Niagara Falls city council meeting.
Councillor Mona Patel pointed out there have been near fender benders as drivers hand out money at street corners.
Chief Administrative Officer Jason Burgess addressed who's responsible if a panhandler gets hit. "At the end of the day, it probably would be the motor vehicle driver, that would... because they [panhandler] are still a pedestrian. That would be something for the courts to handle. Courts usually assess us for what we've done as far as have we met our standards."
Councillor Patel also noted vans sometimes drop panhandlers off at street corners, while there are organizations such as soup kitchens to help.
The CAO added some panhandlers get social assistance.
"So, if you're at $750 a month, but you can panhandle and get $700, you've doubled your income, and it doesn't impact your ODSP [Ontario Disability Support Program]. But if you go to work, and pick up $1,000, you get your ODSP climbed back."
He added panhandling is legal, and constitutionally protected.
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