SEATTLE - Seattle mayor Mike McGinn used his veto power Friday against the city's newly passed aggressive panhandling ordinance.
The mayor vetoed the ordinance Friday afternoon.
The new ordinance lays down strict behavior rules for beggars: No panhandling at ATMs or at parking stations, no blocking a person's path or repeatedly begging after someone has already said no.
On Monday, city council members, on a five to four vote, approved the ordinance, just short of a veto proof super majority count.
Just before the council vote, McGinn said he would veto the ordinance.
"Adding this new law doesn't add anything towards existing laws and has the risk of essentially criminalizing being poor and that's not right," said McGinn over the weekend.
After his veto, the ordinance goes back to the Council for another vote.
