I started this petition because I along with a lot of concerned citizens of New Bedford Massachusetts have had enough. We love the city of New Bedford and believe despite all the negative coverage we get believe this city has so much potential. Over the past year Panhandlers have made this city a not so enjoyable place to live. This city I truly believe goes out of their way to help those in need but those who you see Panhandling are not even homeless. They are street hustlers plain and simple. Street hustlers who are taking advantage of that heart of gold that we have. These individuals are posing as homeless, pregnant and veterans to manipulate us in order to collect money instead of getting a job. Deception is not only issue the city of New Bedford has with Panhandlers. It's affecting local businesses who repeatedly every single day have to call the police on the same people who without a care in the world trespass private property in order to solicit money from hard working people which in turn hurts local businesses. As a customer I would not want to go to the same store if I am being harassed. This is also a public safety issue. About 830 pm at night few months back my wife was leaving Stop and Shop on Dartmouth Street and not once but twice in a dark lit parking lot was followed asked for money,said no and again as she was getting into her car was approached again by the same person !!! What if my wife had a heart issue and was followed and scared like she was? Do you really think if she had a medical emergency the panhandler who's on private property would have stopped and helped? Absolutely not. What if she had a gun? So many times we read about and seeing these people walk up to us in the middle of a drive thru and even walking in front of moving cars and enough is enough. The ACLU needs to take notice!!!!!! The other group that are suffering is the legit homeless. The less fortunate who do need your help are being ignored in fear of them being scam artists like these panhandlers.