OKLAHOMA CITY – The executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma said Tuesday he was disappointed that the Oklahoma City Council had adopted a controversial anti-panhandling ordinance.
The proposal passed on a 7-2 vote Tuesday morning. Under the ordinance, panhandling and other activities, such as the sale of The Curbside Chronicle, would be prevented on medians less than 30 feet wide. The ordinance would exempt individuals who occupied medians that had been improved for public use, or if the individual was 200 feet or more away from an intersection.
ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel said his organization would continue to oppose the ordinance and was in the process of evaluating their next steps.
“All options are on the table right now,” Kiesel said. “We will be monitoring closely how the ordinance is implemented and enforced. We have serious concerns that the city of Oklahoma City can enforce this ordinance and still comply with the 1st and 14th Amendments of the United States Constitution.”