Attorney claims loitering ordinance proposed by UM president could lead to racial discrimination
Nia Hinson
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
An area attorney is concerned a recent proposal from University of Missouri System President Mun Choi could lead to some people in the city being singled out.
Choi held a press conference on Monday, pushing for city and university leaders to come together to address crime. Choi’s push came after Stephens College student Aiyanna Williams was shot and killed while downtown with friends early Saturday morning.
23-year-old Misael Covarrubias is charged with three counts of first-degree assault, three counts of armed criminal action and a count of unlawful use of a weapon in connection with the shooting.
Choi sent a letter to Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe and City Manager De’Carlon Seewood following Saturday’s shooting, asking the two to take immediate action to combat violence downtown. On Monday, Choi also urged the city to “seriously consider a loitering ordinance.”
“The city also needs to address the safety issues of the homeless population being in the medians,” Choi said. “It’s a safety issue for them as well as well as the drivers in those regions, and I believe that we need to clean up encampments that occur. There are safety hazards as well as an environmental hazard.”
Attorney Dan Viets, who is the president of Mid-Missouri Civil Liberties Association, said the city has had discussions regarding implementing a loitering ordinance in the past. Viets said he’s worried the presence of one in the city would invite selective and prejudicial enforcement.
“That’s exactly what would happen if we had those ordinances, certain people…people of color primarily would be singled out for enforcement efforts,” Viets said. “The vast majority of others would not and those ordinances are very suspect. Their constitutionality is very questionable and they’ve been stricken in many jurisdictions.”
Viets said he believes the city should ask for data before any changes in law are made.
When asked if he believed a loitering ordinance would be beneficial to Columbia, Seewood said he would need to know the “intent” of the ordinance.
“We have to build an ordinance around what the intent of what we’re trying to do and so looking at ordinances around safety is important and looking at how do we respond to community issues is also important,” Seewood said. “I have to look and see exactly what we’re trying to do and make sure that whatever we do is in the right intent.”