Councilors Brad Nanke and Dan Clem proposed the resolution to find out if such an ordinance would work in Salem. Oregon courts have ruled that panhandling near roads is protected speech and the Oregon Supreme Court has struck down a previous state law prohibiting it.

Nanke and Clem were primarily concerned with panhandling at street corners and along city roads and cited safety concerns when introducing the resolution.

Nanke said that panhandling is a problem in and of itself.

"We're enabling them. The money doesn't do the people who are panhandling any good," Nanke said.
Salem Police Lieutenant Mark Keagle said there have been issues with aggressive panhandlers on city sidewalks.

"The whole thing is under review. We have received complaints about isolated incidents but we don't have an exact number and no specifics," Keagle said. "There are some people who are down on their luck and don't cause problems, but it would help if we had tools to deal with those few who are too aggressive."

Union Gospel Mission Director Tom Zobel said he would not be opposed to such an ordinance because it would help people who are homeless get out of a cycle of dependency.

"I believe they [panhandling ordinances] are constructive if applied in the right way. It shouldn't be applied to the person who is really down and out."

Nanke said this is one of the reasons why it is so important for City staff to look further into the matter.

"We need more fact-finding. This is just information gathering. We want to see the preliminary results down in Medford and other places with these ordinances. I'm interested in the fact that in Roseburg they are citing the people who give the panhandlers money."