GLENDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — In the city of Glendale, asking for help on the sidewalks is no longer a crime. At a city council meeting on Sept. 9, city leaders repealed their prior decision to ban panhandling amid an ongoing lawsuit.

During that meeting, City Attorney Michael Bailey said that the repeal could help them “avoid the costly litigation.”

In July, the ACLU of Arizona , the ASU First Amendment Clinic, and Public Justice filed a lawsuit against the city, arguing that the ban violated the First Amendment and infringed on individuals’ free speech rights.

“The First Amendment protects all speech, whether you like it or not,” said Aaron Baumann with the ASU First Amendment Clinic. “So, although we may have a feeling that homeless individuals or others shouldn’t ask for money in cer

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