SAN ANTONIO – District 10 Councilman Mike Gallagher wants to crack down on career panhandlers. According to Gallagher, they are a problem across San Antonio.

"We have a certain number of people that are homeless people with financial problems and so forth. That's one group. What I'm really trying to focus on is not that group, although they really need help," said Gallagher.

Gallagher said he wants to go after a professional group that's collecting money and pretending to be homeless.

Gallagher will present his plan to the City Council this week.

Susan Buckingham has lived on the streets for years. She said she's disabled and unable to work.

"This is the only way I can get money. I mean the shelter -- yeah they feed us, but not good enough," Buckingham said.

According to Buckingham, she's been given 10 citations for panhandling and currently has a warrant out for her arrest. She's concerned Gallagher's plan will make worse on people like her.

Gallagher said he believes it's a safety issue that has to be addressed.

"Not only have we had traffic problems but also I'm hearing from small businesses. One of the things that they are telling me is that they've got panhandlers in front of their business intimidating their customers," Gallagher said.

Gallagher said he is working with SAPD to figure out what would work best in enforcing the proposal. He said keeping track of repeat offenders is one way of identifying career panhandlers.