Tampa's Homeless Helping Homeless nonprofit is suing city in federal court, saying its bans on panhandling are too broad, and hence unconstitutional.
"The nonprofit group Homeless Helping Homeless is suing the city of Tampa in federal court, contending the city's bans on panhandling are unconstitutional and threaten to force it out of business. Filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Tampa, the lawsuit targets two city ordinances. One, passed in 2011, outlaws begging on city streets every day but Sunday while allowing newspaper vendors to work the curb seven days a week. The second, passed in 2013, bans panhandling in downtown and Ybor City, as well as near banks, ATMs, sidewalk cafes and bus or trolley stops." -- Richard Danielson, the Tampa Bay Times