117,405 / 59.66% Yes votes ...... 79,375 / 40.34% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

City law bans begging and aggressive soliciting in public places. These laws prohibit asking a person for money or anything of value and following closely behind the person after the person has refused. City law also bans loitering at or near an ATM (cash) machine. Anyone who violates these laws may be imprisoned, fined or required to perform community service. Court decisions have raised questions about the City's ability to enforce these laws.

The Proposal:

Proposition M is an ordinance that would replace existing laws with a new law banning:

• Aggressive solicitation in public places;
• Any solicitation within 20 feet of a check-cashing business or an ATM machine;
• Any solicitation of persons in vehicles on a street or highway on-ramp or off-ramp; and
• Any solicitation on public transportation or in a parking lot.

• Approaching, speaking to or following the person in a way intended or likely to cause fear or intimidation;
• Continuing to solicit after the person has refused;
• Touching the person without that person's consent;
• Intentionally blocking a person or vehicle;
• Using violent or threatening gestures; or
• Following a person while soliciting.

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote of this measure means:

you want to replace the City's anti-begging and aggressive solicitation laws with a new, more specific law that bans solicitation in specific public places and aggressive solicitation in all public places.

A NO vote of this measure means:

you do not want to change the City's anti-begging and aggressive solicitation laws.