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Annette Brecheisen From: Subject Pleasanton City Clerk Panhandlers in Pleasanton From: Jon Rodrigues Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2017 9:19 PM To: Mayor and City Council < citycouncil @citvofpleasantonca.gov> Subject: Panhandlers in Pleasanton Dear City Council, SUPPLEMENTAL- MATERIAL. Provided to the City Council After Distribution of Packet Date 3r =17 I have been a Pleasanton resident for the past 7 years; however, I have lived in the Danville, San Ramon, Pleasanton area for more than 30 years. I am writing with the hope you will strongly consider adopting a public ordinance strictly prohibiting soliciting, vending, etc. for money on sidewalks, center medians and the like during your Public Safety meeting on March 14th. There has been a tremendous increase in panhandlers in the Pleasanton area in the past 2 years. There are "career panhandlers" on the SB 680 on and off ramps, Bernal Safeway parking lot, Stoneridge Dr, Johnson Dr and Foothill Road to name just a few places. Some of these panhandlers have young children with them, forcing them to stand in the hot sun all day or in the pouring down rain and cold. Some folks hold signs for months that say, "just passing through ", they wander through stores, squat on benches, bus stops, parks and tables outside of grocery stores. The longer these folks are allowed to panhandle in Pleasanton without consequence, the worse the situation will become. If the population of panhandlers continues to increase an influx of homeless folks will be next, then tent camps, then increased crime, so on and so fourth. Pleasanton residents and visitors will go outside of Pleasanton to eat, shop, attend events, etc. and Pleasanton's economy will suffer. The panhandlers on on/off ramps, city streets and parking lots are also a safety concern. If these folks get hit by a car, will they sue the city because the city allowed them to panhandle without consequence? This may be a stretch, but not out of the realm of possibility. Thank you for your time. I am hopeful the City Council will find swift resolution to this issue. Regards, Jon Rodrigues Pleasanton Resident 1