State Sen. John Kavanagh is proposing legislation to prohibit people from standing in medians on busy roadways, unless they “expeditiously cross” the street.
The Fountain Hills Republican says the bill is for public safety and has nothing to do with panhandling, though Kavanagh’s history of drafting legislation that particularly targets it.
“I don’t think because I ban dangerous panhandling on narrow medians that people will suddenly stop panhandling and get jobs. They’re just going to go to the sidewalk. So it’s not going to have any effect,” Kavanagh said.
A nearly identical measure passed and enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature last year was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs because it was not limited enough.