Seventy-six percent of Anne Arundel residents support banning roadside solicitation, according to a March survey by the Center for the Study of Local Issues.
That study was citedby County Executive John R. Leopold, who pushed for a state mandate outlawing all panhandling in the county, which goes into effect Oct. 1.
Dan Nataf, director of the center based at Anne Arundel Community College, spoke with The Examiner about the study and the potential impact of the county?s new law.
What do you think are people?s perceptions of roadside solicitors, as not all are homeless?
I don?t think they care about the high school kids collecting money. It?s the homeless they see, as they don?t want to be reminded that such people exist.
In a suburban area like Anne Arundel, people never expect there to be poverty until it shows up on their doorstep. It forces you to confront the issue.
When people think roadside solicitation, they are seeing a homeless veteran as opposed to other purposes.
How did this issue rank among other prevailing issues in the county?
I don?t think anyone has said roadside solicitation is our biggest problem. It didn?t appear to have the same rating as crime and education. This is a very specific thing, like asking people if they want a ban on smoking in restaurants.
Are there any indicators as to why so many people were in favor of anti- panhandling laws?
I imagine people supported it for the same reasons [Leopold] did ? concerns about safety hazards. And probably because people are not attracted to at least some of the causes of panhandling.
