[AppyPappy]

Compassion isn’t free, baby.

[Son House]

No residency required for welfare benefits, great for attracting freeloaders.

[elizabetty]

So is Washington, DC

[Reaganesque]

I live in downtown Minneapolis. At every major intersection of the city, at any given time of the day, in any kind of weather, there’s always at least one panhanlder with a hand written, cardboard sign asking for money. It gets very tiring, very quickly. We can’t go for a walk without being hit up for money so we stay inside most of the time. We are looking to move.

[chrisser]

I'm not a huge sports fan, but I went to two Indians games in Cleveland a few weeks ago, largely because the tickets were free.

Both times, between the parking garage and the stadium, I was hit up for money by beggars.

For many people, this is probably not a big deal and the draw of the Indians is enough to get them downtown.

However, the stadium wasn't full, and experiences like this are enough to turn away those incremental customers who might have filled those extra seats, extra spaces in the parking garages, and might have had dinner at one of the local restaurants or bars.

Not saying its the only factor, but it is a factor that keeps people from coming downtown. As a single guy who makes a decent income and owns a home in the city, I pay plenty in taxes to the city of Cleveland, and most gets redirected to "social services", bureaucracy, and 'rat graft. I shouldn't be getting hit up for more "contributions" from the same groups the few times I try to enjoy an event in the city.

[rhema]

With the right tools and the political will, a city can banish livability crimes quickly. New York's Grand Central Station and transit system used to be plagued by disorder and crimes of all kinds. Today there are days when not one crime is reported in the transit system, according to Kelling. The squeegee men disappeared within weeks when the city moved decisively to control them.

[SmoothTalker]

I have an idea. Why not put ‘em all on a bus and dump them in Mexico. They give us the bottom of their barrel. Lets do likewise.

[NRA1995]

In Merry Olde England, such vermin were publicly whipped, then jailed. Might not be a bad idea....

[Doogle]

Panhandlers a big problem?
Seems the concerned have never had the experience of worrying about their daughter or wife walking pass a group of “day workers” in a sanctuary city....hmmmmm...Shame.
Perhaps their really looking forward to the site of litter,the smell of urine,and the constant hand gesturing and animal sounds made for the delight of our citizens daily.

[Eaker]

If they actually accost you beat the $hit out of them.

Simple problem, simple solution.

[yldstrk]

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.

[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*

[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.

[Beckwith]

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

[MplsSteve]

WELCOME TO FREE REPUBLIC’S MINNESOTA PING LIST!

79 MEMBERS AND GROWING...!

FREEPMAIL ME IF YOU WANT ON OR OFF THIS LIST!

[LetGoNow]

I was recently accosted in a local town by a beggar. When I politely declined she proceeded to curse me.

I followed her for 4 city blocks, ordering her to leave each parking lot she went into, until we got to a gas station that all the ghetto punks hang out at. She walked across the parking lot screaming at her ghetto brothers to come beat me up, that I had robbed her, etc.

She missed noticing the police sitting there who QUICKLY inserted himself into the situation. She threatened to hit him for it and got a free ride downtown out of the deal.

Made my day.

[AUJenn]

The young man who was killed by a random stray bullet downtown last year was a close friend of my husband’s. We went to the funeral. It was a tragedy that many people are still grieving over.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

I was asking a guy here at work about a local restaurant I had heard about that is supposed to be pretty special. He told me all about it and I was curious as to where it was. The following conversation is real......

Me: “So, where about in downtown Minneapolis is this place?

Him: “Um....it’s....ahhh.... right across from ‘Block E’”

Me: “So, bring a gun?”

Him: “Bring a gun.”

[herMANroberts]

I remember about 10 years ago coming out of a hotel on Bay in San Francisco for an early morning walk. Down the block I sidestepped a big pile of human excrement.

The bums in SF have always been agressive especially downtown. I remember when the city was distributing food coupons so you could give them to the homeless and there was a big to do about it at the city council. The folks wanted cash.

I don't know what can be done about this if you live in such a city, what with liberal city officials and judges. Perhaps the business owners united will be enough pressure to get something done.