The recent proposal to expand the criminalization of people asking for money to a City-Wide Ordinance carrying a $50 fine is a blatant example of state violence. The Chattanooga Police Department, Chief of Police Roddy, and Councilwoman Berz intend to advance legislation that is both illogical and immoral. The root cause of what puts people in the position where they have to ask for money is poverty and the oppressive systems that control our lives. The CHA Police Department receives vastly more funding than any other government agency and the Berke administration has gladly given huge amounts of public money away to rich corporations, but when poor people are trying to make ends meet, they’ll be met with a $50 fine as well as an intimidating and potentially violent encounter with police.