Dress for success!

I’m sure many of us remember being told that when graduating from either HS or College.

Placement Directors and Guidance Counselors always told students that when they go out job hunting. “You only get one chance to make a first impression don’t blow that chance”.

The city of Fulton is in that situation right now. They are trying to impress potential investors in the city.

The City of Fulton should take the same advice given graduates. “Dress for success”!

We have some very fine volunteer groups that are doing their part.

Block Builders are doing their best to build our neighborhoods. Which will impress possible investors in our neighborhoods.

The Fulton Garden Club is also doing their best to impress possible investors.

Special Events Committee is trying to attract possible investors also.

On May 6^th the Fulton Common council will have their chance to help the City of Fulton “Dress for success”.

There is going to be two public hearings on that date starting at 7pm at the Common Council meeting.

One will be putting a moratorium on Boarding Houses, which is intended to give the Councilors ample time to decide the fate of Boarding Houses in the City of Fulton.

One will be focused on “Panhandling” in the city of Fulton, It is advertised as “Aggressive Panhandling”.

In the guidelines (which are not visible without a F.O.I.L. request) they give the definition of both “Aggressive and Passive Panhandling”. They also give some guidelines for acceptable locations that “Passive Panhandling” may be permitted.

Let’s get something straight right now! You can’t forbid “Panhandling”, it is protected by the 1^st Amendment (Freedom of Speech).

What some municipalities have had success with is regulating where “Panhandling” is permitted. One such city is little over an hour from here. The City of Rochester has been successful with doing so. The other is the City of NY.

I would like to put in my recommendations.

First: No “Panhandling” permitted in the DRI Zone.

Second: No “Panhandling” permitted within 75 feet of a State Highway.

Third: If “Street Performers” wish to perform for donations from the public. They should be required to obtain a permit to do so.

Fourth: NO AGGRESSIVE PANHANDLING AT ALL!

These along with the other regulations listed in the guidelines should cover all the bases.

Nothing turns possible investors off more than anything that will lower the value of their business or house.

“Panhandling and Boarding Houses”

Will do that.

We can’t forbid them by law!

However, we can control where they are located!

Please come to the meeting on May 6^th at City Hall, at 7pm and speak your feelings.

If you are going to speak in favor of allowing either Boarding Houses or Panhandling, without regulations, remember the heading of this letter!

I am not saying we can’t have either, I’m saying they must be controlled as to their location!

DRESS FOR SUCCESS!

Frank Castiglia Jr.

Taxpayer and resident of the City of Fulton

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