April 28, 2006

Downtown talk turns to panhandling

Meeting with consultants provides forum for concern

By Robert Plain
Ashland Daily Tidings

Behavior on the Plaza trumped traditional planning issues when members of the downtown business community met with consultants Wednesday morning.

Business owners brought up many issues related to a downtown plan — parking, deliveries, a year-round economy, and future development — but aggressive panhandling, transient behavior and loitering on and near the Plaza were the issues that most held the attention of the group.

James Main, an administrator at Southern Oregon University who has lived in Ashland a year, said he has already grown tired of the “undesirable element” on the Plaza.

“You are preaching to the choir here,” said Matt Frey, the owner of the Plaza store Rare Earth. Frey has been outspoken on the issue in recent weeks.

Frey advised those at the morning meeting, which was scheduled to address merchants’ concerns about downtown planning, on the line between legal and illegal begging.

“If you say no or nothing, and they make any other comment it’s classified as aggressive panhandling,” he said. “(The police) really need you to respond.”

Americans, under the first Amendment, have a constitutional right to ask for money in public places but Ashland has an ordinance barring aggressive panhandling, defined as when asking for money infringes upon the rights of the person being asked.

Ron Hanson, whose father owns Gold & Gems, also on the Plaza, believes panhandling has become more aggressive. Police would do more about it if they could, he said.

“Police’s hands are tied because of something called the Constitution,” he said, noting that he and Frey have been putting together “a small vigilant committee” to help affect the situation. “It’s not OK to feed the animals.”

Others took some offense to Hanson’s comments.

“It’s unfortunate this has become an opportunity for business owners to bash homeless people when we’re supposed to be here to look at how planning affects the business atmosphere,” Eric Navickas, a planning activist who has also recently spoken out on Plaza issues.

Ron Roth, co-owner of Gepettos Restaurant, said, “I am personally a lot more intimidated by young cops with shaved heads and guns then I am by young couples with dreadlocks and a puppy.”

Hanson said people unfamiliar with the situation on the Plaza are failing to recognize the difference between people in need and a segment of society that has become intimidating to his clientele.

Frey said people have “spit on people and cussed them out.” He added that “little old ladies” have been accosted and surrounded.

George Crandall and Don Arambula, the downtown plan consultants, said there are methods by which planning and design can affect this situation. They said re-invigorating the Plaza with local residents will drive away undesirable elements.

Susan Powell, owner of Pilaf Restaurant and a member of the downtown plan committee, echoed this point.

“Besides just calling the police, I’m going to make it a point to use the Plaza,” she said. “We don’t use our public spaces as much as we should. If the public isn’t using it, then it becomes abused.”

Police chief Mike Bianca said he does not believe this year has seen a rise in Plaza crime. But, representatives of the Ashland Chamber of Commerce say that other officers have presented information to them that shows the problem has become more severe this year. The Tidings has been unable to corroborate this account. Ashland Police Department has not provided a report on data presented to an ad hoc group of community leaders, including representatives from the chamber and Mayor John Morrison.

Staff writer Robert Plain can be reached at 482-3456 x 226 or bplain@dailytidings.com.