The Trenton Times published the following article on November 7, 2013. To read the full article, click here.

Trenton council reintroduces ‘safe passage’ ordinance with a few tweaks

By Jenna Pizzi/The Times of Trenton
on November 07, 2013 at 9:53 PM, updated November 07, 2013 at 9:54 PM

TRENTON — A toned down version of a proposed law that would aim to clear panhandlers and hangers on from city storefronts won unanimous preliminary support from city council tonight.

The ordinance, known as “safe passage,” is a revised version of a law that was proposed earlier this year by council members that would have amended the city’s loitering law, which was deemed unconstitutional, by replacing the words “gang loitering” with “safe passage.” However, councilmembers were warned by the city’s law director that that change would not make the law constitutional in the eyes of the courts.

Council members and the city’s law staff crafted a new ordinance which was introduced tonight on first reading.