Mandeville Mayor Clay Madden says he wants to crack down on panhandlers, but adds that it is complicated.
City Attorney Elizabeth Sconzert researched and qualified the firm of Holland & Knight as being experienced and best suited to work with the City of Mandeville on the interpretation and enforcement of First Amendment Rights, which Madden said is at the crux of the issue.
At the next Mandeville City Council meeting on February 9, Madden says he will formally ask for their favorable vote in bringing on Holland & Knight to begin their work.
The idea of bringing on a subject matter expert to help the city with this issue is based on the fact that numerous panhandling laws in the country have been overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, including one in the neighboring City of Slidell.
