A plan to stop panhandling in downtown Pensacola could violate the First Amendment rights of the panhandlers depending on how it is implemented. The ordinance introduced by Mayor Ashton Hayward and Council President Brian Spencer, would prohibit panhandling in the downtown area. At last night’s agenda review conference, Councilmember Jewel Cannada-Wynn asked why the ordinance could not apply to the whole city. City Attorney Lysia Bowling said there could be issues with First Amendment rights, because panhandling is protected speech. That is why the ordinance is specific to downtown. The ordinance will be taken up at the city council meeting on March 9th.
