As one who passes thru the intersection of NW Expy and the Lake Hefner Parkway every workday, I couldn't help but notice that someone has chained a plastic garbage can to one of the signs. The other day, the panhandlers there had an umbrella (for shade) and 2 milk cartons with cushions to sit on when not begging.how luxurious

I won't give money to panhandlers as most are not homeless and won't actually work for food or anything else. I do make a point of purchasing the Curbside Chronicle ($2 an issue) which is a project of the Homeless Alliance. You check out it out here: The Curbside Chronicle - Employing and empowering the homeless of Oklahoma City (http://thecurbsidechronicle.org/) The Homeless Alliance offers interesting statistics regarding the homeless population of OKC. Their survey shows 38% report mental illness and 46% report substance abuse.

And we think this is an issue. What if we had this problem? LOL

Topless women of Times Square say they can't be restricted | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/topless-women-of-times-square-say-they-cant-be-restricted/article/feed/902996/?page=2)

I don't think people should be required by law to wear clothes.

I don't think people should be required by law to wear clothes.

If the world were full of attractive people I would agree with you. A quick shuffle through any grocery store should change your mind on that.

If the world were full of attractive people I would agree with you. A quick shuffle through any grocery store should change your mind on that.Can't argue with that.

PP has reportedly been living in SoCal. They could get away with public nakedness there much easier than most places.

PP has reportedly been living in SoCal. They could get away with public nakedness there much easier than most places.I came back last week and am here until November. I always see tons of people openly smoking mj but I haven't seen any people walking around naked although I did see some topless women riding bikes one day.

This is a very interesting read:

I Panhandled on an OKC Median and Survived! | The Lost Ogle (http://www.thelostogle.com/2015/10/28/i-panhandled-on-an-okc-median-and-survived/)

I have mixed feelings about panhandlers, but since I can't vet their authenticity I don't give money, except to buy the Curbside Chronicle when I see it being sold. I try to give to local charities that support the poor and homeless instead.

No Boundaries has an excellent homeless outreach missionary project. They literally go to homeless camps all over the city you'd have no idea existed. I've spent lots of time with homeless individuals and families. I can honestly say that I've never met anyone who panhandled who wasn't simply an addict and/or mentally challenged. The families I've met that were truly down on their luck didn't panhandle. They took advantage of social services and worked like crazy to find a job and a residence.

The new ordinance was passed by the city council and interesting perspective on that by Steve.

Oklahoma City Council passes panhandling ordinance | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/oklahoma-city-council-passes-panhandling-ordinance/article/5465513)

Thoughts on Panhandling | News OK (http://newsok.com/thoughts-on-panhandling/article/5465524)

I know there are some prominent millenials who voted for Mick and Meg last time around who are finding themselves at odds with them on recent votes. I wonder how this will bode for them in future elections.

I know there are some prominent millenials who voted for Mick and Meg last time around who are finding themselves at odds with them on recent votes. I wonder how this will bode for them in future elections.

I doubt it will affect Mick. I don't expect him to run again. I also doubt there would be any serious challenge to Meg. Non-millennials make up the vast majority of the voting public and I suspect this new ordinance will be greatly approved by them.

I doubt it will affect Mick. I don't expect him to run again. I also doubt there would be any serious challenge to Meg. Non-millennials make up the vast majority of the voting public and I suspect this new ordinance will be greatly approved by them.

I agree. While anecdotal, most millennials I know support the ordinance (or something being done--to be more exacting). This includes friends on both sides of the red-blue divide.

Most of the folks I talk to and hear from on social media are strongly opposed to this ordinance.

I would agree krisb but more than half couldn't tell me what the ordinance actually does. They just know the rhetoric that has been passed around by the people against it. I really think it was a missed opportunity by the groups that support the homeless(curbside chronicle) and therefor were against this ordinance to actually work with the city and pass something that worked for everyone.
I will say, the city council passing this under the premise of public safety( not being safe for people to stand for periods of time in medians at intersections) then I hope the same public safety ideals are carried on for bicyclists, greater expansion of sidewalks, making downtown more walkable, etc.

Most of the folks I talk to and hear from on social media are strongly opposed to this ordinance.

I would also wager that most of those folks think panhandlers are normal, functioning members of society who are nothing more than a little down on their luck. As BBatesOKC said above, he has had significant interaction with them and his experience is that every one had mental issues or substance abuse/addiction issues. Giving a panhandler $ is nothing more than giving booze to an alcoholic. They need mental and addiction help. Not cash for booze.

Most of the folks I talk to and hear from on social media are strongly opposed to this ordinance.

I'd wager this says more about the people you surround yourself with on social media rather than a true sense of what the electorate as a whole thinks.

I would also wager that most of those folks think panhandlers are normal, functioning members of society who are nothing more than a little down on their luck. As BBatesOKC said above, he has had significant interaction with them and his experience is that every one had mental issues or substance abuse/addiction issues. Giving a panhandler $ is nothing more than giving booze to an alcoholic. They need mental and addiction help. Not cash for booze.

Which is exactly why criminalizing their behavior is a bad idea. Everyone agrees panhandling is a problem. The question is how to address it.

I'd wager this says more about the people you surround yourself with on social media rather than a true sense of what the electorate as a whole thinks.

It's mostly people who make the 40 under 40 list, city planners, placemakers and the like. They may not represent the electorate (yet), but they are the heart and soul of the city.

It's mostly people who make the 40 under 40 list, city planners, placemakers and the like. They may not represent the electorate (yet), but they are the heart and soul of the city.

Cool, congrats!

It's mostly people who make the 40 under 40 list, city planners, placemakers and the like. They may not represent the electorate (yet), but they are the heart and soul of the city.

If there was a 26,500 under 40 list, I would probably be on it...because I'm under 40. So, I may not be that big of a deal...but I'm a pretty medium deal. Yet, I don't recall ever coming across one of your tweets? Just want to make sure...because like I said...when it comes to social media...I'm almost a big deal.

Finally the scourge of local fire fighters soliciting for MDA will be a thing of the past. /s/

I find it interesting that the "Occupy" in "Occupy the medians" has immediately been misconstrued as part of the Occupy Movement.

'Occupy' protests over Oklahoma City panhandling ordinance gain traction in social media | News OK (http://newsok.com/occupy-protests-over-oklahoma-city-panhandling-ordinance-gain-traction-in-social-media/article/5466716)

I am sure that some of the activists don't recognize that as a problem. And in effect, the causes have a direct correlation. From a marketing standpoint however.... questionable in this part of the world.

If there was a 26,500 under 40 list, I would probably be on it...because I'm under 40. So, I may not be that big of a deal...but I'm a pretty medium deal. Yet, I don't recall ever coming across one of your tweets? Just want to make sure...because like I said...when it comes to social media...I'm almost a big deal.

Allison Barta Bailey, Ben Felder, and Kristen Vails have chimed in on the issue with their concerns.

Finally the scourge of local fire fighters soliciting for MDA will be a thing of the past. /s/

Think God! Thats the hardest they work all year......Should be using their time being more productive

Allison Barta Bailey, Ben Felder, and Kristen Vails have chimed in on the issue with their concerns.

Awesome! I'm pretty sure Allison and Ben both follow my 9 year old daughter on Instagram. She mostly just posts selfies, or an occasional pic of the family Shih Tzu......but every now and again she is known to push the envelope and post up pics of her lunch from the school cafeteria. But at 9...she's not one to get too involved in politics. She was also Student of the month in February of 14' at Deer Creek Elementary. So, I'm assuming, that puts here somewhere on a Top 10 under 10 list, for kids living north of Memorial Road, and West of Meridian.

Do you think you could get some of your 40 under 40 friends to like some of her pics?

Think God! Thats the hardest they work all year......Should be using their time being more productive

Tundra,
Why should they use their "off time" being more productive? They volunteer their time for a good cause whether you agree with it or not.
C. T.

Tundra,
Why should they use their "off time" being more productive? They volunteer their time for a good cause whether you agree with it or not.
C. T.

They are on the clock, while standing in the street collecting money, I guess it's better than playing volleyball.

Think God! Thats the hardest they work all year......Should be using their time being more productive

This shouldn't even elicit a response, but yeah I guess hanging at the station playing Madden would be more productive.

Gee, if we're ragging on firefighters, I guess the city could spend more and hire enough folks to have three 8 hour shifts a day, per house,with folks dropping hose and picks when the whistle blows, irrespective of whether they are at their station house or on/in someone else's trying to save a life.

Someone holds down a 24 hour shift, on a mentally and physically demanding job with no clue from one tenth of an hour to the next if they are waiting or rolling, or what exactly they are rolling upon, then a bit of volleyball etc. doesn't seem out of line to me.

Feel the same way about docs at hospitals, and about the many, many freaking CO's in this state who don't get volleyball time at all, but frequently pull doubles behind the bars because there are not enough bodies, and do so at pitiful income levels.

Awesome! I'm pretty sure Allison and Ben both follow my 9 year old daughter on Instagram. She mostly just posts selfies, or an occasional pic of the family Shih Tzu......but every now and again she is known to push the envelope and post up pics of her lunch from the school cafeteria. But at 9...she's not one to get too involved in politics. She was also Student of the month in February of 14' at Deer Creek Elementary. So, I'm assuming, that puts here somewhere on a Top 10 under 10 list, for kids living north of Memorial Road, and West of Meridian.

Do you think you could get some of your 40 under 40 friends to like some of her pics?

Huh? I'm not sure what this is supposed to mean.

He's making fun of your not so humble brag of who you follow on social media.

Has anyone seen this enforced yet? I drove through 23rd & Robinson intersection by byrons liquor tonight to enter 235 north. There was an accident where a car plowed through the crosswalk island on the NE corner, where people regularly panhandle. Ironically NOT a median. It took out the crosswalk button pole and a good chunk of maps 3 concrete.

Has anyone seen this enforced yet? I drove through 23rd & Robinson intersection by byrons liquor tonight to enter 235 north. There was an accident where a car plowed through the crosswalk island on the NE corner, where people regularly panhandle. Ironically NOT a median. It took out the crosswalk button pole and a good chunk of maps 3 concrete.

There's also been panhandlers (not Curbside) on 23rd and Broadway every day this week as I've been coming home from work.

Yesterday afternoon at 3:30 I was at the usually-heavily-panhandled intersection of Memorial and Penn and noticed the complete absence of any panhandlers. Their trash was still there, though.

Yesterday afternoon at 3:30 I was at the usually-heavily-panhandled intersection of Memorial and Penn and noticed the complete absence of any panhandlers. Their trash was still there, though.

Reckon the cold front and snow sent them packing ? They were absent from my intersection as well. I've counted as many as 8 active panhandlers at once at 23 rd below I-235.

Cold front nothing, I saw some guys RAKING it in on classen & NW expressway just before the ice storm. They had their freezing little dog tied up with a rope with them.

I've noticed for the past two days, yesterday In particularly at SW 44th and Penn I counted 11 panhandlers , today there were 6 , 59th same way , 240 same thing, Who is supposed to be enforcing this ? Cause it isn't happening......

What are the police going to do? Ticket a homeless person who is trying to get money for booze or drugs? Arrest them and place them in an already over crowded jail with other people who shouldnt be there?

What are the police going to do? Ticket a homeless person who is trying to get money for booze or drugs? Arrest them and place them in an already over crowded jail with other people who shouldnt be there?

Why can't they put them on a greyhound to Tulsa or something?

I may be mistaken, it happens, but isn't the effective start date in early 2016?

I may be mistaken, it happens, but isn't the effective start date in early 2016?

I about ran over a panhandler on Sunday exiting Hefner parkway at 63rd. I was sitting at the red light about 4 cars back in the left lane and the light turned green. All of a sudden right in front of me after I started to move the panhandler decided to run over to the right lane to get money a lady was hanging out her window. If I hadn't have been quick I would have totally hit him.

I know not much can be done to prevent the panhandling, but people could help prevent this by not trying to give them money when you are in a different lane. Don't make them enter the street (which is also against the law i believe).

Why can't they put them on a greyhound to Tulsa or something?
That could work lol

I about ran over a panhandler on Sunday exiting Hefner parkway at 63rd. I was sitting at the red light about 4 cars back in the left lane and the light turned green. All of a sudden right in front of me after I started to move the panhandler decided to run over to the right lane to get money a lady was hanging out her window. If I hadn't have been quick I would have totally hit him.

I know not much can be done to prevent the panhandling, but people could help prevent this by not trying to give them money when you are in a different lane. Don't make them enter the street (which is also against the law i believe).

That'd be one less panhandler- lol as the kids say. Anyway don't worry, we're a God fearing Christian state. You can tell by the windows strategically lighted with crucifixes in Dec.

I may be mistaken, it happens, but isn't the effective start date in early 2016?

Got curious enough to go look. 01/07/16 appears to be the start date.

That'd be one less panhandler- lol as the kids say. Anyway don't worry, we're a God fearing Christian state. You can tell by the windows strategically lighted with crucifixes in Dec.

If I were a panhandler, I would start going door to door and simply asking for a donation, once they are eradicated from the street corners, thats probably where they will end up anyway, which I would fully support them in their effort, I would start with all the liberal districts in the area since they seem to be the most sympathetic to them in the first place. Everyone could just start sitting out drinks and food on the porch and a little spending money and definitely a chair for them to rest their feet, you know its a hard days work they put in and all. Ringing the doorbell wouldn't even be necessary, Who wants to join me in this new movement? lets take care of these homeless and destitute people, You need to do your part......

Concern surrounding panhandling at OKC intersections has grown over the years | News OK (http://newsok.com/concern-surrounding-panhandling-at-okc-intersections-has-grown-over-the-years/article/5471140)

Panhandlers not happy with new Oklahoma City ordinance | News OK (http://newsok.com/panhandlers-not-happy-with-new-oklahoma-city-ordinance/article/5471035)

Many of the panhandlers are upset, claiming the ordinance tramples their constitutional right to free speech and leaves them with no source of steady income.

No steady income??? Some of these panhandlers are such a joke. I'm sorry, I can't help it. I moved away from Oklahoma over 10 years ago, and this was not anything even close to the problem it is today. For the most part, I saw one intersection consistently with someone asking for change, and it was the Penn exit on I-44 eb. Now, it feels like things have grown 100 fold. Is the homelessness problem truly that much worse off today than it was back then, or is it a bunch of lazy asses that don't want to work.

What gets me is when you see one who is a able bodied man under the age of 30 who appears to be in pretty good shape and hasn't missed a meal.

I'm in Houston, and some guy cleaned my window despite my efforts to decline the service.

I'm in Houston, and some guy cleaned my window despite my efforts to decline the service.

And I bet he used a dirty rag and it was worse when he was done. That's what happens to me when I'm in Houston.

What's up with the people wearing safety vests and holding the buckets and holding these tiny fliers with a bunch of words? No way those guys are collecting for a legit charity right?

What gets me is when you see one who is a able bodied man under the age of 30 who appears to be in pretty good shape and hasn't missed a meal.

He might have limited education, or enough of a record, or enough of a disability that regular employment paths elude him.

Some of these folk, not all, but some, pull down significant coin on the days they take to a corner.

I don't condone panhandling, but I can understand why an able bodied person with limited prospects might undertake it. Eight hours washing dishes at 8 an hour is 64 before the standard deductions. If the person tops that in less than eight hours, and some do, there is not a lot of reasoning that will persuade them while they are in short term thinking mode.

There are those who have legitimate needs but there are those that are out there to scam a buck. which is unfortunate because it takes away from those that need it. My biggest disappointment is to see kid groups and church groups on the corner asking for donations. When I was a child, (after walking to school ten miles in the snow uphill each way) we would hold car washes, etc to actually exchange something for the money. Part of that was teaching kids that nothing in life is free and that you should work for something. What are we teaching now when we take the group to the corner asking for donations.

^^^^^

Plus, it's DANGEROUS to let kids stand on street corners and in medians, for any purpose. And a liability issue of course to whatever entity is sponsoring/endorsing/encouraging the activity.

... What are we teaching now when we take the group to the corner asking for donations.

Ahh, the days of swinging a duel sided blade in ditches for car dealerships and others, and cutting lawns, etc. to pay for scout/other camps. Hot times in the ol' home town, both literally and figuratively.

And I bet he used a dirty rag and it was worse when he was done. That's what happens to me when I'm in Houston.

On the contrary, real squeegee like from a gas station. Could have stolen it for all I know.

There are those who have legitimate needs but there are those that are out there to scam a buck. which is unfortunate because it takes away from those that need it. My biggest disappointment is to see kid groups and church groups on the corner asking for donations. When I was a child, (after walking to school ten miles in the snow uphill each way) we would hold car washes, etc to actually exchange something for the money. Part of that was teaching kids that nothing in life is free and that you should work for something. What are we teaching now when we take the group to the corner asking for donations.

I think I already addressed this same issue on another thread, but it drives me nuts seeing this. So much that I've thought about starting a volunteer organization that helps sports teams find business to partner with to hold car washes or other fundraising activities that require property access and higher visibility for fundraisers.