Good for more than just kids.
Posted on 02/05/2008 6:03:07 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
COOS BAY, Ore. (AP) - A police survey says panhandlers outside a Wal-Mart here can make $300 a day. Inside, it takes a clerk a week to make that much.
Police say people who have a problem with that needn't look to the law--asking for money is considered protected free speech.
"We are not going to target panhandlers," said Coos Bay Police Capt. Rodger Craddock, who spoke a recent gathering of business owners about panhandling. "We can't do that. But if they aren't getting money from us, they aren't going to stand on that corner."
He said most panhandlers are not criminals. "They are nearly as likely to be victims of illegal acts as they are of committing them," he said.
He recalled a panhandler who was hit over the head with a flower pot and had his wallet stolen. The money in it was from welfare.
"Most (panhandlers) have lived here a long time and actually have homes," he said. "This is just their chosen profession."
He said most are docile, and that people should report those who are not.
"They are there for the money and the money is there to feed their addictions," said Bob More, director of housing and emergency services at South Coast Community Action.
He suggested a voucher system involving tickets people could give that are good for a meal or bed in a shelter.
More said some panhandlers have mental illnesses and won't seek help if they are being given money. "These are broken people who will never be able to hold a job," he said. "They need disability payments."
Craddock was asked if telling people to ignore panhandlers hobbled the panhandlers' free speech. He and most of the business owners said they did not.
"We are trying to educate the community that they have a choice," More said. "That's not suppressing their freedom of speech."
Bookstore owner Kate Fox suggested putting placards in store windows discouraging giving money to panhandlers.
"This is about behavior modification," she said.
Mayor Jeff McKeown said at the meeting that it is a balancing act. "We have a responsibility to you business owners, but we also need to be empathetic to people in our community with these problems," he said.
Parallel to what, is the scary part...
That’s appox. 75K a year tax free and no overhead (allowing for two weeks vacation) … Great Job! ;-)
Good for more than just kids.
Some folks don’t want dignity, just spend’n money. ;-)
ome freepers need to pick a few saturdays and go down and panhandle and load the place up. Where clothes like the other panhandlers, and no ID. There will come a point where somebody with significant brains and authority will say, Enough. Just keep panhandling anyway.
You can put an eye out with one of those things.
I can’t believe I wrote “where.” Guess I better go panhandle and buy a vowel.
75K a year for holding a sign outside Wally World? Why would they do anything else?
Every dollar donated to panhandlers is a vote begging them to stand in the doorway the next day, week, or month and continue begging. You get what you subsidize.
I wish generous people would just donate to their favorite charity and not vote to encourage panhandlers. Oh well... I can’t make people not be stupid.
Paging Sherlock Holmes!
(Disclaimer: not a real person)
B.S. - I'd be willing to bet that very few, if any, of them pay income tax on the money that they collect. Therefore, they are criminals. More than likely tax dollars are transfered TO them because they don't have any stated income. So they get thousands out of your and my pocket on top of the $75,000/year that they make asking people for money.
Kumbayah and a group hug!
If the Sheriff of Knottingham isn’t going to police the beggars making $300 a day then the IRS should. Good enough for Al Capone and Alan Freed, good enough for for Hobo Bob.
Mom?!?!? What are you doing here?
Graybeard58
Did the Epilady I sent you break down? :)
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