Commonwealth’s Attorney Speaks Against City Noise Ordinance

Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Herring spoke Wednesday against the noise ordinance adopted by City Council in February, saying the law “is bad and needs to be stricken.”

styleweekly.com Don Harrison and Sara Dabney Tisdale.

Noise law exemption ‘probably unconstitutional’

Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael N. Herring said the city should “scrap” the ordinance and adopt one based on set decibel levels.

Richmond General District Chief Judge Robert A. Pustilnik said, “I am not crazy about most language in the statute.”

timesdispatch.com Reed Williams.

Club ordinance and strong communication keeps nightlife safe

RPD Lieutenant John Beazley is in charge of the area.

“Inside a club you might have 150, 200 people,” he said. “Outside on the streets you might have 1000 or 1500 people. So the problem that was being caused inside is really minimal when you compare to what could happen outside.”

via nbc12.com Laura Geller.

Libbie Ave. projects have Tyler juggling roles

A pair of proposed office developments along Libbie Avenue have Richmond City Councilman Bruce W. Tyler carefully maneuvering between his roles as a public official and a private architect.

via timesdispatch.com WILL JONES.

Nightclubs implementing new ordinance

“It’s very frustrating,” Nicholson said. “Even something that doesn’t have anything to do with us is going to affect our business, as well as everybody else’s down here.”

via nbc12.com Laura Geller.

Keep Monroe Open & Public

Our coalition of churches and other organizations DO NOT oppose renovations to Monroe Park. We like pretty parks! But we cannot sit idly by while those most in need have their only open public space closed. We have created this petition to demand that the renovation be done in stages, rather than all at once, leaving between 25% and 50% of the park open for the people who need it most, and the organizations who are able to provide that need. We also firmly oppose any private security force in this public space, especially one specifically charged with keeping out the “apparently homeless”.

via change.org.

Panhandling – City Code

Chapter 66 OFFENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

ARTICLE V. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC PEACE

DIVISION 1. GENERALLY

Sec. 66-151. Loitering-Obstructing free passage of others.

(c) Prohibited conduct. It shall be unlawful for a person to loiter at any public place or any place open to the public in such a manner as to violate any of the following restrictions:

(5) In order to promote the safe and orderly flow of traffic on the public streets and highways, no person shall stop a motor vehicle in such manner as to impede or render dangerous the use of the streets or highways by others, and no person shall loiter on or in the public streets or highways for the purpose of engaging the operator of any motor vehicle or any passenger in a motor vehicle in conversation or any other activity while such motor vehicle is stopped on the main-traveled portion of a street or highway.

 

ARTICLE VII. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
DIVISION 1. GENERALLY

Sec. 66-317. Solicitation on center median.

(c) Prohibited use of center median strip. It shall be unlawful for any person to stand or stay on any center median for the purpose of soliciting contributions of any kind. It shall also be unlawful for any person to stand or stay on any center median for the purpose of selling, offering for sale or advertising any product, property or service or for the purpose of distributing any document, product, or other item.

Sec. 66-318. Unlawful entry onto streets.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to enter a street and approach a motor vehicle to:

(2) Solicit contributions of any nature from the drivers of motor vehicles or passengers therein;

Panhandling – City Legislation History

PAPER NO.	ACTION DATE	ACTION	TITLE
2007-271	1/14/2008	STRICKEN	To amend and reordain ch. 66, art. VII, div. 1 of the City Code by adding therein a new section 66-319, to require a permit for the purpose of panhandling from vehicles. (Mr. Tyler) {Public Safety – October 15, 2007}
95-310-289	11/27/1995	ADOPTED	To amend and reordain the Code of the City of Richmond, 1993, by adding therein in Chapter 20, Offenses, Article V (Offenses Against Public Peace) a new division, numbered Division 2, consisting of Sections numbers 20-75 through 20-79, concerning aggressive panhandling or other solicitation.
95-282	11/27/1995	STRICKEN	To amend and reordain the Code of the City of Richmond, 1993, by adding therein in Chapter 20, Offenses, Article V (Offenses Against Public Peace) a new division, numbered Division 2, consisting of Sections numbers 20-75 through 20-79, concerning aggressive panhandling or other solicitation.
95-272	10/9/1995	STRICKEN	To amend and reordain the Code of the City of Richmond, 1993, by adding therein in Chapter 20, Offenses, Article V (Offenses Against Public Peace) a new division, numbered Division 2, consisting of Sections numbers 20-75 through 20-79, concerning aggressive panhandling or other solicitation.
90-R387	1/14/1991	STRICKEN	Creating a study committee to examine the need for an ordinance to regulate begging and panhandling.
90-374	3/11/1991	STRICKEN	To amend the Code of the City of Richmond, 1985, by adding therein Chapter 7, Business and Business Regulations, a new article entitled: “Article VII.A Begging and Panhandling,” consisting of Sections 7-174 through 7-179, nclusive, requiring permits for persons who beg or panhandle and imposing certain requirements on holders of permits.
90-373	3/11/1991	STRICKEN	To amend the Code of the City of Richmond, 1985, by adding therein Chapter 7, Business and Business Regulations, a new article entitled: “Article VII.A. Begging and Panhandling,” consisting of Sections 7-174 through 7-179, inclusive, requiring permits for persons who beg or panhandle and imposing certain requirements on holders of permits.

Panhandlers in Richmond

Richmond city councilman says it’s time the city cracks down on people begging for money on the streets.

via wtvr.com Sandra Jones.

Monroe Park – Charles Samuels’ Statement

20100900 Samuels – Monroe Park