BAN PLACED ON LAX SOLICITORS : COUNCIL FORBIDS COLLECTING OF MONEY, SETTING UP PROBABLE LEGAL BATTLE.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

Complaining that panhandlers often act as the first ambassadors of Los Angeles, the City Council on Tuesday voted to ban the solicitation of charitable contributions at Los Angeles International Airport.

Despite the threat of a costly lawsuit, the council majority sided with Airports Department officials, who complain that passengers can be accosted by as many as seven, sometimes belligerent, solicitors between the curb and the gate.

``Do we want to give people the impression that you have to go through a gantlet when come through Los Angeles International Airport?'' asked Councilman Marvin Braude. ``It's just not hospitable.''

Councilwoman Ruth Galanter said the large number of groups soliciting funds at the airport presents a negative image to people who visit Los Angeles.

``The first ambassador of the city of Los Angeles is a panhandler,'' Galanter said.

The ordinance prohibits individuals from verbally asking for and receiving contributions at the airport but allows people to hand out literature, including fliers that ask people to mail contributions.

Svavasa Dasa, president of the Los Angeles chapter of the Hare Krishnas, said the ordinance is unconstitutional and will ``significantly'' impact his group financially.

``We're going to go to court,'' Dasa said. ``We'll take this all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.''

``A lot of legitimate groups will be hurt by this,'' he added. ``Ours will be one. We don't harass anyone.''

Accompanying Dasa and a dozen other representatives of charitable groups on Tuesday was attorney David Liberman, who predicted the courts would strike down the ordinance.

Liberman said the city has exaggerated the problem and has refused to consider other, more reasonable measures to address any problems that do exist.

``The council made a huge mistake,'' he said, vowing to go to court to block the ordinance if it is signed by the mayor.

The council vote was 11-4, with council members Richard Alarcon, Mike Feuer, Jackie Goldberg and Joel Wachs opposed.

Feuer said he is concerned the ordinance infringes in the free speech rights of charitable volunteers as well as the ability of groups to help the disadvantaged.

``In the process, we are running roughshod over a core value of the First Amendment,'' Feuer said, calling the measure ``Draconian.''

Feuer unsuccessfully suggested the city study other measures, including setting aside areas at the airport for specially licensed people to solicit funds.

Alarcon said there are already laws on the books to prevent improper behavior.

``These groups will be decimated and the people they help, mostly the poor and disadvantaged, will be the ones who will be hurt,'' Alarcon said.

Wachs said he believes a pending ordinance prohibiting aggressive panhandling might solve the problem without having to take stronger measures.

Alarcon said that there are more important things to spend city funds on than a costly legal battle.

``You want us to spend our legal resources to go to the Supreme Court,'' he told airport officials. ``I think were going in the wrong direction here.''

In anticipation of a lawsuit, the council action included a condition that the city Airports Department cover the cost of defending the ordinance in court.