Anti-Panhandling Pub Ed Campaign

8/2/2019 Anti-Panhandling Pub Ed Campaign

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City of Fort Lauderdale Public Affairs Office

Anti-Panhandling Public Outreach Action Plan Objective:

To raise awareness about the serious problems caused by panhandling and to offer

opportunities for alternative giving to reduce the prevalence of panhandling in Fort

Lauderdale

Internal CommunicationsTarget audience:

Public Safety Employees

Key messages:

Panhandling is a public safety problem that negatively impacts our quality of life.Giving to panhandlers can lead to serious problems:

- Drug and alcohol abuse- Violent crime

- Harassment and intimidation- Distracted drivers and dangerous intersections

Panhandling is a detriment to commerce. Residents and visitors have complained

about aggressive panhandling in shopping and historic districts.

The City aims to be more proactive in the enforcement of existing laws to discouragelongtime, aggressive panhandlers beginning with education and warnings to

panhandlers. Outreach will be provided to direct newly distressed individuals toward

local resources.

Launch timeline and communications tools:

March 2012

Outreach Action Plan for City Commission review

Request benchmark measurements from the Fort Lauderdale Police

Department (i.e., number of known panhandlers, number of complaints,

number of calls for service, number of public incidents)

Distribute informational flyer to Public Safety Employees

Produce poster and distribute to City facilities

June 2012

Request update on measurements from FLPD (3-month progress report)

Review progress and address areas where improvements can be made

September 2012

Request update on measurements from FLPD (6-month progress report) Review progress and address areas where improvements can be made

December 2012

Request update on measurements from FLPD (9-month progress report)

Review progress and address areas where improvements can be made



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External CommunicationsTarget audiences:

Neighbors, businesses, visitors, professional and civic organizations and boards(Downtown Development Authority, Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors

Bureau, Las Olas Association, Broward Alliance, Tourist Development Council,Riverwalk Trust, BRAB, BID, Northwest CRA, Beach CRA). Key messages:The City of Fort Lauderdale is proactively engaged in preserving our quality of life

and protecting public safety and lifestyle amenities. Residents and visitors arecreating potential harm by giving directly to panhandlers and, instead, are

encouraged to give to non-profit organizations.

• Frequently, panhandlers use contributions to fuel chemical addictions and other

self-destructive behaviors.• Panhandlers are a detriment to commerce by harassing residents, tourists and

businesses.

• The presence of panhandlers affects the ways in which others use public places. • People’s generosity encourages panhandling.

• Money made through panhandling enables panhandlers to sustain living on the streets.

• As an alternative to contributing directly to panhandlers, residents and visitors are encouraged to donate to a non-profit or charitable organization of their choice.

Launch Communications tools and timeline:Outreach campaign to launch in March 2012:

• Road signs

• Police Message Boards • Banners in parks and key high traffic areas of the City • Blast emails

• Website Postings

• Social Media • Palm cards (for general distribution and to be distributed with parking tickets)

• Table tent signs for targeted hotels, restaurants and businesses • Display advertisements in HOA and professional association newsletters • Advertising on taxi cab tops – (60 panels for 3 months pending budget approval)• Public service announcements

• Outreach at high profile special events high (information table, banner, literature, etc.) including but not limited to:

Jazz Brunch Starlight Musicals

War Memorial Events 4th of July SpectacularEarth Day David Deal Playday

Lauderdale Air Show Holiday Light Up EventsGreat American Beach Party Downtown Countdown

• On-going promotion on Public Affairs communication tools including website,

Channel 78, HARS, On-Hold Messages, Civic Packet, Blast emails, water bill, e-

newsletters)• Press releases (at campaign launch and key intervals throughout the process)



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• Cable Television Option (production of cable television advertisement plus mediabuy with approximately 400 spots and upload to YouTube pending budget approval)

Estimated Budget:

ITEM QUANTITY ESTIMATED COST

Table Tent Cards 500 $350

Palm Cards 2500 $400

Road Signs 20 $600

Banners 4 $1,000Display Ads 12 – 3 months $5,000

Taxi Top Ads 60 panel – 3 months $9,500

SUBTOTAL $16,850

Cable Television Option 400 spots $9,500

TOTAL $26,350

Information from other cities:

• The City Journal , a quarterly report published by the Manhattan Institute reports

that a “spanglers” (spare change artists) are not helpless victims or even homeless. “Rather, they belong to a diverse and swelling community of street people who have

made panhandling their calling…A big part of the cities’ woes is the

professionalization of panhandling.”

• The Dallas Morning News reported that anecdotal surveys by journalists and policeofficers show that panhandlers can make $30,000-$40,000 a year in tax-free money.

• In Austin, the police chief said that more than a third of the people killed in traffic

accidents had been cited for panhandling in the past.

• In Denver, the city has turned 86 unused parking meters into donation lock boxes

with funds targeting non-profits that assist the truly needy.

• Santa Barbara used a redevelopment agency to fund a $50,000 “Real Change, NotSpare Change” education campaign to promote alternative giving.

• In Portland, only about 10 percent of the people loitering on downtown streets andbegging during the day were homeless, according to the city’s downtown

redevelopment district. The district credits an anti-panhandling initiative with playinga role in a 29 percent decline in street crime.

• The City of Anchorage launched a “Change for the Better” campaign. The city

acknowledged that people enjoy the instant gratification of giving a dollar or two to apanhandler, but the money would be better spent at various social service programs

across the city.

• The City of Evanston Police Department, a downtown marketing association and he

Chamber of Commerce launched a “Please find another way to give” educational

campaign. The campaign includes posters stating: “Most panhandlers in Evanstonare struggling with substance abuse and are not homeless.”

• According to a report published by the Urban Institute, enforcing laws against



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panhandling plays a relatively small role in controlling the problem. “Public education to discourage donations, and providing adequate access and availability of social

services – especially treatment for drug or alcohol abuse are more effective tactics ina comprehensive community response to panhandling.

Conclusion:

After researching other municipalities and existing public service programs, staff

believes this campaign will raise awareness about the serious problems caused bypanhandling, offer opportunities for alternative giving, and by doing so, help reduce

the prevalence of panhandling in the City of Fort Lauderdale.

Following are examples of the artwork that has been designed for several of thecampaign’s outreach elements including a flyer / display advertisement, roadway

sign, table tent card, banner, and taxi top advertisement. Additional campaign

elements will reflect the same theme, color scheme and design.

FLYER / DISPLAY AD:

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ROAD SIGN:



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TABLE TENT CARD:

Panel 1 Panel 2



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BANNER:

TAXI TOP ADVERTISEMENT:

Documents

Anti-Panhandling Pub Ed Campaign