Tyron Scott is a resident of Dover.
Once again, I am writing in regard to the city of Dover’s proposed ordinance, 2025-21, introduced by Councilman David Anderson and Police Chief Tom Johnson, which would affect those who are panhandling and those who attempt to assist those who are forced to panhandle due to lack of support and services. This ordinance, if passed, will affect those who are impoverished and indigent through issuing a fine by police.
First and foremost, why are they worrying about panhandlers? They’ve been around since the days when Jesus walked the Earth. What is disturbing is that Mr. Anderson and Chief Johnson are sitting around proposing ordinances to further cripple residents in need.
David Anderson should be ashamed of himself and will not admit to the truth: His reasoning behind this ordinance is to get homeless individuals out of Dover and advance his political career to run for mayor. Let’s face it: His tactics will never work because there are too many wonderful, heartwarming resources — like Code Purple, the Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing, the People’s Community Center and other homeless shelters and churches in Dover — that have a different mindset than David Anderson does.
Further, panhandling is not illegal, and giving money to panhandlers is also not illegal. And those doing so should not be fined just for trying to help a brother, sister or veteran.
David Anderson’s true character and discriminatory behavior are showing, and this proposed ordinance is not all about a safety issue.
Please notice, folks, that David Anderson says that the need for his ordinance is due to safety issues, yet he has never presented statistics showing that panhandlers and those giving have caused property damage and/or injuries, deaths to others in the city, etc. He has produced no statistics since his proposal’s introduction.
In a city where they vote to shut the electricity off on older adults and single parents with children, next they will put a fee on the air that we breathe from God. Maybe Mr. Anderson and his supporters should start focusing on important matters that affect everyday people, like legislation to bring down the electric bills people can’t afford in Dover and further focusing on listening to the citizens’ needs and implementing cost-effective measures, instead of raising everything.
People are people, Mr. Anderson. They are all God’s creation. And remember that the most expensive liquid in the world is a tear. It’s 1% water and 99% feelings, so stop hurting people.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
