Homeless

Panhandling, Gone Too Far?
“Starving please help” In todays decaying economy there is an increasing number of homeless people living in the streets. With this increase in numbers more and more people are seen asking for money at intersections, parks, and in front of businesses. Panhandling laws exist but are rarely enforced due to the panhandlers using the first amendments, freedom of speech, as a means to avoid getting in trouble or insufficient funding of law enforcement. This should be a public concern because panhandlers’ standing around intersections is very dangerous and also discourage tourists and families that go to businesses where panhandlers are known to congregate. The absence of enforcement of these laws, I believe, cause beggars and panhandlers to stay in their current financial state and never want to try to get off the streets because of the amount of money they make from friendly civilians.
Common sights at any major intersection nowadays are panhandlers. These people usually stand on the side of the road holding up signs and have a sad look on their face. This is a major public safety concern because walking in the middle of a busy intersection is just asking to be hit by a distracted driver that may be on their phone or a woman doing her makeup. KTSM, a news station in El Paso, reported a truck hit a 48-year-old man. “Police say this incident serves as an example of the dangers panhandlers, and those who give to them, create.” (Pg.1) Cecil Thompson, a panhandler in Chicago, admits panhandling is dangerous and some are hit by cars. “One of them I know got his toes ran over,” he said. “You can get side-swiped. You get hit by a mirror.” (CBS Chicago pg.10) If even panhandlers admit what they do is dangerous, one can’t help but think something should be done about this public safety issue. Not only are cars dangerous to panhandlers, but any person walking up to stranger may also be in danger. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, a panhandler was shot dead from a parked car after asking for money. A police investigator stated “A viscous response to a public annoyance.” This is a vicious example of what people do to panhandlers, other examples include insults and angry public demands that the city government do about these people.
Back in high school, when I used to work at McDonalds, A man by the name of Jeff, a man who recently found himself homeless, had approached me at the register. I had given him a free drink because I had felt sorry for him. At about the same time my manager had told me I could go on break. During this time I sat down with Jeff and we had a great conversation. He told me that a few of the so-called homeless panhandlers that stood around De Zavala were in fact not homeless at all. He also continued to say that they had their own apartments and they panhandled as a means to make money. This was a total shock to me because I have given some of these people money before, thinking they were homeless. As our conversation went on, he had told me that on a good day these panhandlers could make over 60 dollars an hour! That means for every thousand cars that pass, most likely more pass through a busy intersection in an hour, if one of every sixty people were to give one dollar, a panhandler could easily make 60 dollars. From then on I thought twice before I handed my money to these so-called homeless.
Another major problem associated with panhandling is how it affects businesses. Abraham Hejazi, owner of Allure Boutique, located in Ann Arbor, says “We used to have one person panhandling outside,” he said. “Now, there are six or more right outside my store everyday. This 100 percent affects my business.”(Pg.2) In 2010, Ann Arbor Police Chief Barnett Jones states that aggressive panhandling has become the number one crime in Ann Arbor. As a result the police department assigned officers to walk or bicycle downtown to help prevent this infestation of panhandlers. Because of financial problems with the department those patrols were eliminated. I think panhandling near businesses does deter customers. For example, if a street where many people go to shop were to have panhandlers, this may lead people to go someplace else for their shopping because of the uneasiness caused by beggars. If I had a family, I know I would not want my children to be exposed to panhandlers if it could be avoided by going someplace else. Laws on panhandling differ from city to city. Cities such as Austin have major panhandling problems because of overcrowded jails, causing the police to be reluctant to enforce the laws. In San Antonio, November 28th, 2011, a new ordinance was approved by the City Council. The law states:
Prohibit solicitation within 50 feet of ATMs, banks, parking garages, charitable contribution meters, parking meters/pay stations, bus stops, outdoor dining areas and marked crosswalks. Violators could face a $500 fine, and be charged with a class C misdemeanor. (Conger pg.3)
This is a good start, but I still think we can go a bit further. To minimize any unwanted car accidents involving pedestrians the city should propose a law that prevents people from panhandling at intersections. Also an increase in donation boxes for homeless charities around town will decrease the amount of panhandlers one will see in the streets. This may sound kind of harsh, but maybe proposing a law that anyone seen giving money to panhandlers outside of the law constraints should be fined up to a certain amount. This is the only way to totally eliminate panhandlers because there will be no money to make by doing so. This new law could be enforced by an increase in patrol officers around major panhandling areas. In result, the city should see a huge decrease in panhandlers. Roads and businesses will be free of this growing public annoyance. There are many steps we can follow to rid of these panhandlers. Next time you see a panhandler, take a moment to think, is there a better way I can help these people out? Homeless shelters are always taking donations and if more people were to donate to these charities, I think will be much better help rather than creating traffic hazards and depleting businesses of sales. One should sympathize towards people down on their luck, but is it worth hearing that a panhandler was hurt or even killed in the middle of the road as a result? Every time one gives money to a panhandler, the panhandler is inclined to believe that if I come back here, I should get more money. Instead of feeding the beast, try to think of alternatives such as giving them a palm card with the location of local charities, or even clothing such as socks, gloves, and etc. These strategies are aimed at a long-term panhandler and those who recently found themselves in need. We as a society need to try and fix this problem rather than funding it. As time goes on and we instill these practices, eventually we should see a decrease in the panhandling population. We should all consider this quote from Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright, “Never stand begging for that which you have the power to earn.”