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Youngstown anti-loitering bill cleared for vote in mid-July
YOUNGSTOWN
After asking questions and getting input from those working and living downtown, city council is prepared to vote on a proposed anti-loitering ordinance at its next meeting, July 13.
Council’s three-person safety committee met Thursday – though all seven of the legislative body’s members attended – to discuss the proposal making it illegal for people to sit, lie or loiter on any downtown sidewalk, street, public place or within 50 feet of the entrance door of a business or government agency.
Council chose at its June 15 meeting to discuss the proposal further before taking a vote.
Several members of council said they back the proposal but are concerned about police officers being properly trained and that it could discourage people from coming downtown.
Councilman Julius Oliver, D-1st, whose ward includes downtown, said Thursday that he wants to “make sure the officers are trained enough as to how to approach [people]. We don’t want confrontation or to keep people away from downtown.”
Police Chief Robin Lees said the city’s law department will train officers on how to handle situations.
The ordinance would allow officers to question people who are sitting, loitering or lying down and blocking the sidewalk, street or the entrance to a business about what they are doing.
Those who don’t comply with the law will get a written warning and, if accused of violating it again, would be charged with a fourth-degree misdemeanor. Those convicted subsequently would be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor.
The proposal “is pretty broad, and it give officers a lot of power,” said Nate Pinkard, D-3rd, a retired Mill Creek MetroParks police chief. “I don’t have a problem, but I want an assurance from police that officers will not abuse it.”
Lees told Pinkard that won’t be a problem.
However, the police chief said there typically aren’t enough officers downtown. There is a beat cop who walks downtown and an officer driving a cruiser, he said. Sometimes the department can add officers downtown, paying them either overtime or compensatory time, Lees said.
Patrolman Joseph Moran, the community police officer for the 1st Ward, which includes downtown, said people coming downtown shouldn’t be worried about this proposal.
“We’re familiar with the people who are causing the problems,” he said. “We’ve arrested people selling drugs and for alcohol use.”
He added: “I can’t arbitrarily go up to somebody without reasonable suspicion or probable cause. It’s not as easy as it sounds to scope out the problems and take action. But with reasonable tools, we can work with it.”
Downtown business owners said Thursday that there’s a group of about 50 people who are causing problems.
Al Adi, owner of Downtown Circle Convenience & Deli at 116 W. Federal St., said a group of people outside his store commit crimes.
“It’s prostitution, drug dealing and drinking,” he said. “I deal with it all day. This ordinance will help, but it won’t be the solution.”
Richard Mills, president of the Ohio One Corp., which owns five downtown buildings, said, “I don’t think anyone’s trying to harass anybody.” He added he “strongly” supports the ordinance.
Ayanna Walker, service coordinator for International Towers, said, “We’ve had officers who’ve been a help and others who haven’t. We need officers who can help us and be respectful to us.”
International Towers at 25 Market St. is a high-rise housing complex for low-income people with 170 residents living there.
Michael McGiffin, director of downtown events and citywide special projects, said, “We have [some issues], but if you come downtown, you will be safe.”