From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C.  — Asheville City Council “is considering changes to the city’s panhandling ordinance,” according to AI Overview.

As for the proposed changes, the Asheville Police Department and City Manager Debra Campbell are advocating for expanding the designated “high-traffic zones,” where verbal panhandling is prohibited. 

Current high-traffic zones include downtown Asheville and Biltmore Village. 

Proposed additions include parts of Haywood Road corridor, Patton Avenue, Tunnel Road, and South Tunnel Road.

As for the rationale for the proposal, proponents of the changes — including the APD and the city manager — argue that the updates are needed to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers, and to provide officials with another tool for addressing the impacts of homelessness. 

“The APD (has) presented data suggesting a correlation between panhandling locations and pedestrian-vehicle collisions, though not directly claiming causation,” AI Overview noted.

“Many community members are voicing concerns that the proposed changes could criminalize people experiencing poverty and homelessness rather than addressing the root causes of these issues. Critics argue that the existing ordinance might not be adequately enforced and that expanding restrictions would simply shift the problem to other areas,” AI Overview stated.