panhandling

NEW BEDFORD — Ward Three City Councilor Hugh Dunn filed a motion, co-sponsored by City Council President Joseph Lopes, and Councillors Ian Abreu and Kerry Winterson, aimed at curbing panhandling by giving city residents and visitors a more effective way to donate their money, while also supporting services for this at-risk population...

NEW BEDFORD - City councilors got an up-close look at some of the surveillance equipment used by the New Bedford Police Department Tuesday during the council's Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods meeting held at the Rockdale Ave. headquarters.

In a wide-ranging interview with WBSM's Brian Thomas, New Bedford Police Chief Joseph Cordeiro touched on a lot of subjects that plague the police force, including panhandlers, shootings and drug overdoses. Chief Cordeiro says the problem with the latter isn't with increased heroin use, but rather that the heroin is being mixed with Fentanyl, creating a more powerful and more addictive high... Rea

Tis' the season, for shopping, dining, drinking and for enjoying the family and friends. I love the Christmas season. It also brings with it, a feeling of generosity for people who have enough to share with those less fortunate. However, there are so many these days...

The New Bedford City Council's idea to place deputy sheriffs near panhandlers has another opponent, the ACLU. Deputy Legal Director Sarah Wunsch with the Massachusetts ACLU says law enforcement officers should be focused on crime-related matters...

The New Bedford City Council has been brainstorming on methods to decrease panhandling in the city. Thursday night, Council President Linda Morad presented the possibility of having deputies from the Bristol County Sheriff's Office stand beside people begging for money...

New Bedford city councilors continue to work out solutions to the city's increased number of panhandlers that won't face legal challenges.

A proposed ordinance requiring licenses for panhandlers in New Bedford was struck down during Thursday night's City Council meeting.

Efforts to regulate New Bedford's panhandlers through licensing met its match during Thursday evening's City Council meeting thanks to major concerns over costly lawsuits against the city.

The American Civil Liberties Union is keeping a close eye on the New Bedford City Council. Thursday night's meeting will discuss the future of an ordinance that would require panhandlers to obtain a license in order to beg for money. ACLU Deputy Legal Director Sarah Wunsch tells WBSM News the ordinance is unconstitutional, saying free speech cannot be licensed...