By Richard Danielson, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, December 16, 2010
TAMPA — The City Council heard an appeal Thursday from the organizer of a petition drive to put a referendum banning roadside panhandling on the March 1 city ballot, but council members declined to schedule the referendum themselves.
"It is dangerous," said Spencer Kass, who is leading the effort to gather 18,000 signatures by Dec. 26 to put the issue on the ballot. "City Council, by your motion, can place this on the ballot today."
Council member Joseph Caetano said the board should have the "guts" to schedule a referendum, but other council members brought up the cost of a ban, the need to get a consensus of neighborhood groups and the possible impact on groups like the Shriners that also seek donations on the side of the road.
Council Chairman Thomas Scott said he is in discussion with city ...
