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CR City Council: Beggars Begone

By Daren Sukhram

Story Created: Aug 26, 2009 at 9:20 PM CST

Story Updated: Aug 26, 2009 at 9:20 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - Beggars beware. Cedar Rapids will soon ban certain types of panhandling.

The city council Wednesday unanimously approved an ordinance to prohibit so-called "aggressive solicitation".

That includes what Michael Munro is doing in the video for this story. He's holding a sign to get money from people in cars on Blairs Ferry Road.

Munro says he's been doing this off and on for a few years as he tries to get Social Security help.

He says he knows there are panhandlers in Cedar Rapids who exploit people's generosity but says people like him truly need the help.

"I need this out here. I can only speak for myself but if I don't do this I won't have a place to live," said Munro

Besides a ban on people begging drivers for money, the ordinance would also outlaw doing it in city right-of ways or near banks and ATM's.

It would also punish persistent panhandling.

The ordinance will even apply to "fill the boot fundraisers" by firefighters to collect money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The ordinance must pass two more readings before becoming law.

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