OKC ordered to pay $990K for lost panhandling case VOICE championed
[Excerpts]
Monday, United States District Judge Joe Heaton ordered that the City of Oklahoma City pay the opposing attorney’s fees and expenses in a total amount of nearly $1 million in a suit brought against the City for their panhandling ordinance of 2015.
The ordinance first tried to outlaw panhandling along roadways. Then, when challenged, the City changed its argument and said that it was a matter of “safety.” . . .
In 2015 the City Council of Oklahoma City passed the controversial ordinance that sought to prohibit persons from standing or staying in certain medians.
During hearings on the ordinance, dozens of community members addressed City Council, some pleading and some demanding that the Council reject the ordinance.
Many, including local ministers [and leaders organized by VOICE], argued the morality of an ordinance that was aimed at criminalizing poverty by banning panhandlers from asking for money from medians.