panhandlers

[Deni]

SO the discussion was brought up to take pics of panhandlers and map them out.. I have a few pics for y'all if you want them?

Let me know where we are posting .....lmao

[Lauri101]

I don't have pictures, but I can tell you that many hang out on the corner of Robinson and Main Street, near Sweets n' Eats or the bookstore. They've gotten bolder here lately, which can be a bit frightening in the wee hours of the morning.

I can only imagine how visitors to our city must feel when hit up for change, etc. OKC's finest don't seem inclined to do anything about it, either - I was told I'd need to file a formal complaint against the individual.

[Deni]

If you are homeless and hungry there are so many people and origanizations out there that you dont have to go without.. Pick up cans to make extra money.. Then you are not only helping yourself, but you are cleaning up areas.

My thing is when they use their kids to get more money. I know better your kid wont do without. Do not give these people Money, they make more than most of the working class people. If they are truly hungry they will take food. When you offer them food and they say NO let them go without.. Screw that.. If you see a kid out there with them, go buy the kid food and offer it to the child, let the adult fend for themselves.

There is NOOOOOOOOO reason for anyone to be begging for money to eat with food banks and churches now days feeding people daily.
If you want to throw your money out just go to a family that you know is trying and help them.

[Todd]

I'm setting up a special page I'll let you know.

[Dave Cook]

Lauri....

Is panhandling an Oklahoma City problem?

I've seen beggers and panhandlers from Bangkok to Baltimore. Don't think there is anyway you'll ever rid the world of people needing/requesting handouts.

But good luck.

[Deni]

We are not trying to do away with them. However the less you give and they realize they will soon move on. There is alway someone going to take their place, but I am sick of seeing them on my road and being bugged when I am filling my car with fuel or taking my daughter grocery shopping..

[CMSturgeon]

This weekend I was at Chipotle in downtown Dallas and a panhandler came in and ran around to all the tables and asked for money before being kicked out by the restaurant employees. Pisses me offfffffffffff. Get a job. If you can walk around all day, or stand all day holding a sign, you can stand behind a McDonalds counter. But then again, they probably wouldn't make as much money if they worked at McDonalds.

[Lauri101]

In my past, I've had to get help from others in order to feed my children. I worked as a janitor, with two small kids and no child support, and had to get state assistance for day care. I didn't like asking for help, but I did what I had to until I could get my college degree and better myself.

I have NO problem in helping the truly needy - but those that just want to "do their thing" (drugs, alcohol, whatever) and beg for money to support their habits piss me off.

I recently bought a six inch sub at Subway and offered it to one of the panhandlers who said he wanted money for food. He took it, looked at it, then threw it in the trash.

SweetandSourPoke - you're right, we're never going to do away with beggers. I don't expect the problem to go away, but I don't want to be cursed and threatened if I choose not to "donate".

[Keith]

I don't know about the nort side of the city, but I know down in south OKC, there are always panhandlers at the major intersections around I-240. After listening to my police scanner, I know that the police can't do anything about it unless a formal complaint is made, or if a panhandler is causing traffic problems.

I also drive downtown at least 3-4 days a week, and I see them all over the place.......like cockroaches....except they scurry around in the daylight while roaches scurry in the darkness. McDonalds at Sheridan and Western, as well as the Valero station across the street, attracts a bunch of them. Also, at Reno and Classen Blvd, there is a convenience store/gas station where many of them hang around.

I don't trust them and I never give them money or anything else. I completely ignore them and make sure my windows are rolled up.

Like HOTTCUTZ said in an earlier post, these panhandlers can get a job and make a little bit of money....but why should they when motorists are always giving them money?

What was it Todd said at our luncheon on Saturday? He said he saw a panhandler at SE.44 & I-35, and while Todd was getting gas, he saw the panhandler leave his "post" and go get in to a brand new car. Talk about a scam artist.

I'm sure some of these people are homeless and do need help, but that's why there's the Jesus House, Grace Rescue Mission, churches, and several other organizations that will feed them, clothe them, and offer a shelter to them.

[BailJumper]

Actually the police can run them off and even arrest them if they want. Some do, even charging them with aggravated panhandling on occassion. The problem is, like cockroaches, they just come right back and obviously can't pay the fine anyway and the jails are full and incarcerating them is a burden on tax payers.

I seriously doubt most of them (or even a measurable number) drive brand new cars. While many do live out of hotels at $40 a night (phone, cable TV, pool, maid service), they are living handout to handout. The one's mentioned at SE 44 and I-35 often live in the field to the SE, behind the gas station. There has been a homeless camp there for many years. The ones downtown often live under the overpasses and in one of three camps near the river and downtown airpark.

Personally, my favorite was when I saw a male panhandler obviously holding a discarded sign from another beggar. It read "Hungry, Homes and Pregnant, Please help!"

The whole "get a job" thing is a little tougher than it may sound. When you are wearing your only clothes, have no phone, no transportation, often a criminal record and throw in alcoholism, drug addiction and mental issues and the employers are not exactly banging your door down.

Man, I'm sounding like a liberal.

Fortunately, for most people, homelessness is a temporay situation as most people want out.

But we certainly have our population of the perpetually homeless.

Anyone remember when they were trying to convince people to buy those coupon books to give to the homeless that gave them a free ride to a shelter. What a joke that was.

[Karried]

The whole "get a job" thing is a little tougher than it may sound. When you are wearing your only clothes, have no phone, no transportation, often a criminal record and throw in alcoholism, drug addiction and mental issues and the employers are not exactly banging your door down.

Man, I'm sounding like a liberal.

No, you are sounding like a person who cares about other people. Even downtrodden, homeless, down on their luck people.

Thank God for you.

'But for the grace of God, go I' .. it could be any one of us out there in the cold. You just never know what's in another person's heart. Most didn't choose this lifestyle. Most didn't choose to have to resort to begging for food and money to live. Yeah, we can all give the excuse.. it's for drugs and alcohol.. but, how do we know? It could be for anything. We just don't know..

I know it's an eyesore to see people asking for money.. I know it's bad for business, I know some of them are working the system, I know all of this intellectually.. but my heart still hurts for them.. yep, label me a bleeding heart I suppose.. oh well.

[mranderson]

"The whole "get a job" thing is a little tougher than it may sound. When you are wearing your only clothes, have no phone, no transportation, often a criminal record and throw in alcoholism, drug addiction and mental issues and the employers are not exactly banging your door down."

No. It is not tough. Just walk into McDonalds and ask to flip burgers. At least you would be earning your way instead of being a bum.

[BailJumper]

ANDERSON again you haven't a clue. I agree, there certainly are those who do take whatever job they can find to lift themselves out of a temporary situation. But that is not the case for many others.

Lets say you own a McDonald's and three people come in and apply for a job. Two have cars, a phone number and seem physcially able to do the job (the minimal requirement for most any minimum wage job). The third guy walks in in his obviously donated Jesus House clothing (all wrinkled, used and doesn't fit). You can tell by his application he can barely read and write. He walked in an indicated he had no car. He's homeless so he also doesn't have a phone. He probably doesn't have the most refined social skills either and may even be mentally off. Who are you gonna hire?

[mranderson]

ANDERSON again you haven't a clue. I agree, there certainly are those who do take whatever job they can find to lift themselves out of a temporary situation. But that is not the case for many others.

Lets say you own a McDonald's and three people come in and apply for a job. Two have cars, a phone number and seem physcially able to do the job (the minimal requirement for most any minimum wage job). The third guy walks in in his obviously donated Jesus House clothing (all wrinkled, used and doesn't fit). You can tell by his application he can barely read and write. He walked in an indicated he had no car. He's homeless so he also doesn't have a phone. He probably doesn't have the most refined social skills either and may even be mentally off. Who are you gonna hire?

Just what I would expect from a liberal.

[BailJumper]

Again, you love to advertise your ignorance.

I am not a liberal.

[Martin]

so i had a few minutes to work this up for grins... -M

[Karried]

Just what I would expect from a liberal.

This isn't political. Why do you have to package everything into a box and label everyone?

It's about caring for other people and having a little compassion for those less fortunate. It's about not being judgemental and assuming you know everything about everyone and everything.

Some of these very people that you love to hate could be veterans that served your country and lost everything because of it. They could have mental issues such as post traumatic stress syndrome.. maybe they tried to get help.. maybe they are so messed up they can't even go to get assistance. You just don't know.. but if it makes you feel better about your life to look down on them, then more power to you.

You don't have to liberal to care about others.

[Deni]

MMM...
I love it.. Can I steal it and put it on the Hott Cutz wall of fame!!!!!!!!!

[Martin]

you sure may! -M

[Mandy]

A police officer told my roommate that due to not having a panhandling law in OKC, they make more than he does.

[Karried]

He must not make very much.

I imagine those standing on a corner get about $10 bucks an hour on a good day...(it's hit and miss, some days they won't make anything at all) that's generous but equals $80 x 5 = $400 x 50 = $20,800 annually... with no health care.

So, I'm hoping that OK pays it's finest a little more than than 20K a year.. that's barely above poverty.

I like the idea of giving those in true need food or a jacket.

I know many abuse the generosity of others but I also know there are many people who are truly needy and hungry.

When we were in New Orleans, we had finished eating and I had a take home container of half a sandwich... we were walking back to the hotel and this younger man asks, ' are those leftovers - can I have it?' I wasn't sure what he said, it didn't quite register at first and I was kind of leery of strangers... but I brushed past and I hear this plainative wail, of 'please, I'm just hungry'..... so of course, I gave it to him.. but it broke my heart.

I thought of my kids and prayed that they never will have to ask strangers for leftovers but God forbid, if they ever are in that situation, I hope someone will give them food.

[Tim]

My all time favorite panhandler was in Vegas a few weeks ago. I was having a coffee at Starbucks on Fremont Street at about 7:00am. (I'm an early riser, not a stay-out-all-night-er) This guy wanders into the enclosed outdoor seating area and stares at my newspaper. Being a friendly kinda guy I offered it to him. He thanked me politely, held out a rumpled paper bag and said "Thanks! Wannsomevokka?" I tried to casually ignore him, as my wife was on he way to join me and I did NOT wish to explain this ,when he got louder and louder! "WANNSOMEVOKKA?" "VOKKA! DRINKTHUHVOKKAMAN!" Finally the doorman for the hotel came and scooted him away, bellowing the whole time "THANKSMANHAVESOMEVOKKA!"
At least the barter system is alive and well!

[Martin]

that's generous but equals $80 x 5 = $400 x 50 = $20,800 annually... with no health care.

...and no taxes, either. -M

[Mandy]

He must not make very much.

I imagine those standing on a corner get about $10 bucks an hour on a good day...(it's hit and miss, some days they won't make anything at all) that's generous but equals $80 x 5 = $400 x 50 = $20,800 annually... with no health care.

So, I'm hoping that OK pays it's finest a little more than than 20K a year.. that's barely above poverty.

I don't know how much they are paid, but they can't afford $50k cars. He said he has seen a panhandler end his "shift" and drive away in a $50k new Mercedes.

[Tim]

Perhaps we should combine the "legalize prostitution" thread with this one and solve the how-much-do-you-make-standing-on-a-corner question once and for all?