Panhandling ban long overdue

The panhandling debate is finally coming to an end with a vote by the City Council to support a city manager-proposed ordinance eliminating those annoying and dangerous mobile tolls set up at our city's intersections.

This ordinance is long overdue and should be vigorously enforced by our police and city officials.

During this very public debate, much attention has been focused on the city's image and criticism of the homeless, indigent and mentally ill folks seen panhandling all over Worcester. But the issue is bigger and more important than a discussion about these unfortunate souls on our city's medians.

This is very simply, a public safety issue. The new ordinance will extend to everyone, including our city's Little Leagues and other nonprofit organizations that have people darting in and out of traffic, collecting spare change from passing motorists.

It is only a matter of time before one of our city's kids is hit and killed by a car and everyone across Worcester will bemoan the fact that action wasn't taken to prohibit this activity before a tragedy.

This is a good city ordinance on many levels, but none more important than to prevent the dangerous practice of our city's kids running through traffic to collect a “tag-day dollar” for their Little League.

VINCENT PEDONE

Worcester