Poughkeepsie Considers Banning Panhandlers

The City of Poughkeepsie is considering a measure that would ban street beggars.

Although asking for money is not against the law, aggressively begging and creating a nuisance is something that the city may be able to combat if they decide to do so. Mid Hudson News reports that the Poughkeepsie City Council discussed banning street beggars from standing outside of city businesses and approaching customers.

Alderman Lee Klein, who's office is in an area of the City of Poughkeepsie that has an especially large number of panhandlers, says that the begging is scaring away people from the city.

Another board member blamed the closure of the Mid-Hudson Psychiatric hospital for the increase in the homeless population in the city. Others argued that drug and alcohol abuse is also a root of the problem.

We want to know what you think. Is banning panhandlers from the City of Poughkeepsie a public safety issue or an excuse to wage war on the poor? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.