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The “God Bless” tag on the “homeless” cardboard sympathy sign is dishonest and disingenuous.

The Grifters Know how to tug at your heartstrings.

Mainly women. I’ve seen it. A LOT.

Yeah, there's 2 guys on Main Street in my neighborhood who are regular fixtures as panhandlers. One of them talks to himself, argues with himself, and carries on weird conversations with anyone who actually speaks to him. The other one has set up permanent shop in front of a kosher grocery and the adjoining movie theater. When I give charity, I send it to my chosen organizations via electronic banking. I don't want to open my purse on the street. I also seriously doubt that the permanent guy is unable to work. Why should he? He rakes it in, and all tax-free!

When I lived in Brooklyn, there were several regular panhandlers who stalked kosher restaurants, even coming up to your table begging or trying to sell some ratty ties or pirated videos. The management usually tossed them out. There were also panhandlers stationed regularly in front of kosher groceries. When I refused to give to one filthy woman, she screamed, "I hope you get cancer!" at me. Unfortunately, she was standing between the glass window of the establishment I wished to enter and its door. When I opened the door, and she got her filthy cursing mouth (and other parts) smushed, I guess that shut up her diseased ranting for a while, and saved other patrons from her predations.