The future of downtown [Minneapolis] is threatened by beggars

Minneapolis Star Tribune ^ | June 13, 2007 | Katherine Kersten

[doug from upland]

An entrepreneur is going to have to start manufacturing some small, easy to hold signs. Perhaps a panhandler victim can also give the pandhandler a business card with address and directions to the nearest Dem elected official.

[rhema]

When God loves a person, he will send him a beggar. If you respond to the ugly, unsympathetic beggar with compassion as well as to the sympathetic beggar, it helps you more than the beggar.

Yes, but it's your manner and your response that will make a difference. You don't have to be haughty and condescending; neither should you be an ennabler.

People who are homeless for economic reasons usually get help and leave the street quickly, explains Kelling. Panhandlers, on the other hand, are often chronic alcohol and drug abusers, or scam artists who commit other crimes. In the early 1990s, for example, New York City suffered from an epidemic of "squeegee men," who extorted money for washing windshields. Though often described as homeless, over 75 percent of them had addresses and over 50 percent had felony records, according to Kelling.

In Minneapolis, a recent survey confirmed that panhandlers often use donations to buy drugs and alcohol, says Ostrow. Giving to them might seem compassionate, he says, but it frequently just encourages self-destructive behavior.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Add “The People’s Republik of Madistan” to the list of BLUE metro areas now overrun by drunk or drugged bums, gang bangers and rapists.

One can now get shot to death on State Street (That Great Street!) in broad daylight. Happened just last month.

But we just have to trust our local Governments that Socialism works if given enough time. *SMIRK*

[steve8714]

I hate mimes. I like to make them scream...silently.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Suggesting someone might go shopping in downtown Mpls brings a smile. The dozens of parking enforcement officers will ding you with a pricey overtime ticket if you are 5 minutes late. In the 16 years we lived in the Twin cities, I don’t think we drove downtown more than five or six times. Pity these cops can’t roust the hobos and drunks that infest the city.

[MondoQueen]

Where I live, there are signs in the parks that say “Do not feed the waterfowl. It encourges dependency.” Maybe that would work in those cities that have a problem. Maybe you could add “And they will probably use the money to further a bad habit like smoking or drinking”

[Live free or die]

Reading your post kinda makes Bumfights a lot more palatable.

[31R1O]

I live in downtown Portland, OR and our homeless situation here is crucial as well. what burns my ass more than anything is “youths” panhandling with some ratty ass pit bull. They are quite aggressive at times.

[MplsSteve]

I work in downtown Minneapolis.

I challenge anyone to walk down the length of Hennepin Avenue on a summer night and not be a little alarmed and repulsed.

Nicollet Mall is starting to get a little seedy too. Only the sheer number of department stores and restaurants have kept it from deteriorating further.

[Niteranger68]

As filthy as they are, they don’t like being spit on for some reason.

[Balding_Eagle]

Finally, a sensaible response.

I could see, just from reading the article, that the solution here is just to give money to all of the beggers. Generous amounts. After a short while they will have enough and will disappear from the street corners.

[Beckwith]

The future of downtown [Minneapolis] is threatened by beggars Muslims

[MplsSteve]

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[Reaganesque]

[chrisser]

When God loves a person, he will send him a beggar. If you respond to the ugly, unsympathetic beggar with compassion as well as to the sympathetic beggar, it helps you more than the beggar.

You may want to look up the definition of "enabler".

If the "beggar" truly looks to be in need, then I will do what I can, usually in a non-monetary manner. However, I'm not going to provide them with drugs or alchohol, which is what giving many of them money is essentially doing.

Sometimes true charity, true compassion, and true concern for one's fellow man means not giving, regardless of how their story may tug at your heartstrings.

We aren't supposed to be charitable to make ourselves feel good. We're supposed to be charitable in order to help our fellow man. Each situation is unique and often difficult to ascertain, but with the extensive network of public and private charities available in my city, partially financed by me, I find it difficult to believe that anyone who wants to lift themself out of poverty would need to resort to begging in the streets. Consequently, I don't believe that those who resort to this are all that well-served by my indulging them.

[AppyPappy]

When God loves a person, he will send him a beggar.

If the beggar dies in an alley of an overdose, an angel will get his wings.

[rhema]

I work in downtown Minneapolis. I challenge anyone to walk down the length of Hennepin Avenue on a summer night and not be a little alarmed and repulsed.

It's a little unsettling even to drive Hennepin, as my wife and I sometimes do when we're headed to an evening concert.

[doug from upland]

The last beggar/bum/phony I encountered was in front of a fast food restaurant. She wanted money for food. I offered to go into the place with her and buy her a hamburger and drink. Nope. She wanted the money.

[Inquisitive1]

We can’t go for a walk without being hit up for money so we stay inside most of the time.

Sounds like Boston: seems like there are two or three per block.

[SShultz460]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h40mSKMdTIc