SIOUX CITY IS CHANGING THE LOOK OF SIGNS POSTED TO DISCOURAGE RESIDENTS FROM GIVING MONEY TO PANHANDLERS.
BACK IN 2022, SIGNS WERE CREATED WITH THE MESSAGE “IT’S OKAY TO SAY NO TO PANHANDLERS.”
THOSE SIGNS WEREN’T INSTALLED BECAUSE THE CITY RECEIVED A LOT OF NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AFTER NEWS REPORTS ABOUT THE SIGN’S WORDING.
MANY PEOPLE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE USE OF THE TERM “PANHANDLERS AND WANTED A MORE POSITIVE APPROACH.
THE CITY OBTAINED INPUT FROM AGENCIES SERVING THE HOMELESS AND THE CURRENT SIGN DESIGN WAS FINALIZED AND SIGNS WERE THEN INSTALLED THROUGHOUT SIOUX CITY SAYING “WANT TO HELP THOSE IN NEED, GIVE INSTEAD AT SIOUX CITY ASSIST DOT ORG.
SINCE THEN, THE CITY SAYS IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT MOST INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN PANHANDLING ARE NOT HOMELESS.
AT THE JULY 20, 2026, COUNCIL MEETING, STAFF WERE DIRECTED TO EXPLORE REDESIGNING THE SIGNS. TO PROVIDE A MORE DIRECT MESSAGE.
THE NEW SIGN WILL SAY “WANT TO STOP PANHANDLERS? STOP GIVING !
THERE WILL BE A COST TO REFACE THE EXISTING SIGNS.
IN 2023, THE LAST TIME THE SIGNS WERE REFACED, THE COST WAS $39.35 PER SIGN.
STAFF TIME WOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE SIGNAGE.
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