West Palm Beach restricting panhandling to public urination downtown

West Palm Beach city commissioners just passed a controversial amendment of an ordinance minus one portion that caused controversy.

NEW AT 11 --- WEST PALM BEACHCITY COMMISSIONERS SAY THEISSUES OF PANHANDLING ANDHOMELESS SLEEPING DOWNTOWN ANDIN THE NORTHWOOD NEIGHBORHOODIS OUT OF CONTROL.

THEYPROPOSED STIFFENING THEPENALTIES BUT THE IDEA CAMEWITH A RESOUNDING "NO" TONIGHTFROM HOMELESS ADVOCATES.REPORTER TODD WILSON SHARESBOTH SIDES AND WHAT CHANGESDID GO THROUGH.<< NATS: (VO) WEST PALM BEACHCITY COMMISSIONERS JUST PASSEDA CONTROVERSIAL AMENDMENT OFAN ORDINANCE..

MINUS ONEPORTION THAT CAUSEDCONTROVERSY.

(SOT)MAYOR JAMES.THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT ACRIMINALIZATION OFHOMELESSNESS.

NATS: (VO)COMMISSIONERS SET OUT TO PASSAN AMENDMENT THAT REGULATESCERTAIN BEHAVIORS SUCH ASPANHANDLING, PUBLIC URINATION,AND SLEEPING/CAMPING IN PUBLICAREAS DOWNTOWN, AND IN THENORTHWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEPOSSIBLE DECISION DREW A HUGECROWD OF FOLKS AGAINST THEAMENDMENT.

MANY WHO SAY THEORDINANCE CRIMINALIZESHOMELESSNESS.

(SOT ) YOU'REJUST RELOCATING THEM THEY'REGOING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.(SOT) I'M GOING TO KEEPTALKING TO YOU, I'M GOING TOKEEP TALKING TO YOU, I LOVEYOU.

NATS: (VO) IT ALSOATTRACTED A SMALL NUMBER OFPEOPLE IN SUPPORT.

(SOT)WILLDAVIS- BUSINESS OWNER IT'S NOTTHAT PEOPLE ARE NOT BEINGCOMPASSIONATE I THINK THAT'SWHAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAKEIT SEEM AND IT'S NOT RIGHT.NATS: (VO) BUT THE DEBATE OVERCAMPING/SLEEPING IN PUBLICAREAS BEGAN TO WEIGH ONCOMMISSIONERS CORY NEERING ANDJOSEPH PEDUZZI.

BOTHQUESTIONED WHETHER IT WAS THESMART THING TO INCLUDE IN THEORDINANCE TO MAYOR JAMES'FRUSTRATION.

(SOT ) I THINKYOU SHOULD SPECIFY WHAT IT ISYOU ARE TRYING TO WORK ON.NATS: (VO) IN THE END, THECOMMISSIONERS CAME TO ACOMPROMISE.

THE ORDINANCEPASSED BUT WITHOUT THECAMPING/SLEEPING PORTION.TODD'S TAG: ALONG WITH THEORDINANCE IS A $500 PENALTY OR60 DAYS IN JAIL IF SOMEONE ISCAUGHT BY POLICE.

IN WEST PALMBEACH, TODD WILSON, WPTV NC