posted May 6, 2008
The City Council may extend the panhandling ban that now applies to the Jack's Alley area south to the Convention Center and the Chattanoogan hotel.
That came after Councilman Jack Benson said panhandlers have been so obnoxious at the Convention Center that one group has decided not to rebook the facility, but to go to Gatlinburg next year.
Officials said the panhandlers have been coming inside the center and going after delegates.
Councilwoman Sally Robinson said, "I wish we could just ban it all over town. It's getting on my last nerve."
Councilwoman Linda Bennett said, "It is just unacceptable when they are coming in and going after our guests."
The city does have a citywide ordinance dealing with aggressive panhandling.
City Attorney Randy Nelson said it is difficult to prosecute the panhandlers. He said, "Most of these people are not going to be affected by a $50 fine."
Ms. Robinson said, "I think we have a bad problem with panhandling, and I don't think we have ever dealt with it."
She said she wants to know how Gatlinburg is dealing with the problem.
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