Massachusetts street paper Spare Change News has joined the fight against a law that could see selling street papers made illegal in some areas of Worcester city, USA.
Though the ordinance explicitly prohibits “aggressive begging, soliciting and panhandling in public places,” it is so broadly worded that it could see vendors banned from selling street papers in many areas of the city.
Areas covered include anywhere that is within 20 feet of a bank of cash machine, public toilet, theatre, bus stop, outdoor cafe seating or even near a pay phone.
It also bans selling after dark - from half an hour before sunset to half an hour after sunrise. Which would obviously be extremely problematic in winter.
Spare Change News is working with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to attempt to have the ordinance declared unconstitutional.
For the full story, see the story on the Spare Change News website.
