MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monongalia County Commission President Tom Bloom wants Morgantown City Council and West Virginia University officials to draft a new county-wide ordinance relating to panhandling.
Bloom said problems have been reported in the county, city, and on the WVU campus.
Bloom said the lack of control makes it unsafe for the person soliciting and the resident.
There have been reports of car accidents caused by people soliciting while standing in the roadway or disrupting traffic flow at stop lights. There have also been multiple cases of people reporting feeling “uncomfortable” when confronted, according to Bloom.
Bloom told councilors during their regular meeting last week that he gets several calls each week describing being asked for money, which creates an uncomfortable exchange.
Bloom said he has heard from three female constituents with real experiences of the activity he said is increasing.
“They’re asking for help so they can work around downtown and use the rails as trails,” Bloom said. “Be able to enjoy the amenities the city and county offer without worrying about whether they have to be confronted on a daily basis by people for money.”
Bloom said the city ordinance is based around the term “aggressive” and not specific regulations. Bloom suggested the revised ordinace would create clear parameters for soliciting and other requirements that would establish clear rules.
“As an example, it is unlawful to solicit or panhandle in or along a roadway,” Bloom said. “It even states that a person must obtain a permit from the sheriff’s office with other restrictions.”
Bloom said once the city, county, and WVU work through the ordinance and approve it, meetings would be held with Granville, Star City, and Westover to adopt the same measure. Being fair and consistent will prevent any municipality from becoming perceived as a safe zone for soliciting, he said.
“We need to be proactive, and we need to make sure we enforce our laws on a consistent basis,” Bloom said. “That’s city, county, and WVU.”
The area is known for providing compassion to those in need through hot meals, accommodations, harm reduction and medical services, and mental health resources. But the services are designed to help lift people, not create a cycle of behavior detrimental to the community, Bloom said.
“We have a great reputation for caring for those in need,” Bloom said. “We have exceptional nonprofits that provide these services and the programs for them to improve their lifestyles, but what good is it to offer help and funding when they refuse our services.”