DTX-MCK: Impact 9/19/2025

McKinney City Council members approved an ordinance outlawing aggressive panhandling across the city but tabled two other ordinances related to sitting or sleeping in public spaces.

Council members voted on the ordinance amendments during a Sept. 16 meeting. The aggressive panhandling ordinance, which applies citywide, prohibits soliciting or panhandling in an aggressive manner by using violent or threatening gestures, or intentionally blocking the free passage of pedestrians or vehicles.

The setup: The remaining ordinances were tabled until the council’s Oct. 21 meeting after discussion among council members. One ordinance would make it unlawful to sleep outdoors, sit in a public street or lie down on a public sidewalk, street, median, parkway or pedestrian right of way. A person would be allowed to sit on a chair, bench or architectural feature supplied by the city or private property owner.

The second ordinance would clarify that camping is prohibited in any publicly accessible outdoor area that’s not designated for camping. The ordinance expands the definition of camping to include staying or sleeping in a vehicle overnight.

Andalous Mediterranean Mezza is slated to open in December in McKinney, said Wassim Merched, founder of Andalous Mediterranean Concepts.

The details: The eatery's menu will feature plated dishes including beef tenderloin skewers, lamb chops and kababs. Hummus and salads will also be served. The 6,500-square-foot restaurant will also feature two tree-shaded patios and a small gated play area for children.

“Andalous Mediterranean Mezza is designed to make guests feel as if they’ve stepped into the Mediterranean,” Merched said in an email.

The context: The restaurant will fill a space previously occupied by Two Senoritas Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, which closed in 2024, according to a company social media post.

📍1222 N. Central Expressway, McKinney

Per a Sept. 12 press release, the American Cancer Society and Occidental have partnered to expand access to life-saving cancer treatment to patients across Texas. Occidental’s half-million-dollar donation will help the American Cancer Society continue to deliver the resources patients need to access cancer care that could save their lives.

The details: With the new contribution, Occidental is helping fund essential access to care programs that remove barriers often standing between diagnosis and survival for cancer patients, according to the release.

Programs the partnership is helping with include free lodging, rides to treatment and 24/7 support for cancer patients and caregivers.

Quote of note: “We are honored to contribute to the American Cancer Society and help remove barriers to accessing vital care so people can focus on their healing journey,” said Rob Stevens, vice president of supply chain with Occidental.