The American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont says several towns across the state should repeal anti-panhandling ordinances.
The Vermont ACLU sent a letter this week asking Rutland Town, Barre City, Montpelier, Bennington, Brattleboro and Winooski to repeal their ordinances. The Times Argus reports the letter is in conjunction with a larger campaign with the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty.
ACLU staff attorney Jay Diaz says the organization is not currently planning legal challenges to the state ordinances, but says a 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision has resulted in the overturning of dozens of anti-panhandling ordinances.
Officials in many of the towns and cities say they don't think panhandling is a pervasive issue, but will discuss it at upcoming meetings.
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