Tyron Scott is a resident of Dover.
I read in the Daily State News an article titled, “Proposed Dover pedestrian safety ordinance lies in waiting,” by Mike Finney. From my understanding, Dover City Councilman David Anderson has proposed an ordinance banning individuals from panhandling on the medians in Dover. The ordinance also includes members of the public attempting to assist the underprivileged who are panhandling with some spare change, making it an illicit act that could result in a fine for the panhandler and the compassionate person trying to help.
To set the record straight: Dave Anderson and three other members of Dover City Council (Gerald Rocha, Fred Neil and Dr. Julia Pillsbury) want to criminalize drivers for helping others, by gifting them a few bucks for hot meals or maybe handing them bottles of water or extra snacks from their cars. This is not going to solve the issue, but Dave Anderson and three other members of Dover City Council do not want to hear what may potentially solve the issue because then they would not have a need to legally steal and extort money from drivers for helping out the homeless population! Homeless citizens did not ask to become homeless!
But criminalizing, ticketing and fining drivers who want to help is legalized extortion! Dave Anderson and the three other council members do not have the right, power or authority to be criminalizing and issuing fines to drivers for doing what they choose to do with their own money, even if it includes slipping a few bucks into panhandlers’ hands. That becomes government overreach and tyranny, in my opinion. Additionally, I believe Mr. Anderson is being deceptive toward the citizens and using “safety” as a disguise to take away people’s rights, especially when it comes to trying to help those who are less fortunate. No one should be persecuted or subjected to a fine for holding up a sign or simply asking for spare change. People have a constitutional right to ask for help, and the ordinance in question is a direct violation of that right.
Further, everyone standing out there on the medians is not on drugs, as some think. Have a conversation with a couple of them. Don’t judge all of them because we see a couple that we think are on drugs. Some are out there because they can’t afford housing. If we look closely, there are disabled individuals and veterans out there, also. We should be trying to find ways to help people, instead of wasting money on things we don’t need. How about affordable housing, instead of building fancy apartments downtown? Let’s start there. This ordinance reminds me of gestapo-type harassment against the most vulnerable. What really concerns me about this ordinance is that it will affect innocent people who are good-hearted and just want to help others.
Here is a thought for you, Mr. Anderson: Instead of pushing your own agenda on the public, take a more Walter Cronkite-style approach and just state the truth. The real reason behind your proposed ordinance is not safety but to push the underprivileged and unhoused out of Dover. It appears that you care more about making a name for yourself than the people you represent.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
