Panhandlers

[John]

I was approached by a guy last night in bricktown. He said, "Hey can you spare some money so a guy can get a bite to eat?" I said no, but that I would bring him out some chips and salsa if he wanted it (I was headed for Chelinos.) His response? "Nah, I don't like their salsa." and he turn around to walk away.

!?!?!?

Picky picky...

A guy who isn't really hungry... just wanted some money for booze/drugs. Figures.

[blabare]

I am not talking about lazy people who dont want to work. It's been said that most homeless people are mentally ill. These people have been abandonded by their familes and cannot help themselves. Coming from the welfare capital of the US, I know all too much about lazy people.

[jbrown84]

I was approached by a guy last night in bricktown. He said, "Hey can you spare some money so a guy can get a bite to eat?" I said no, but that I would bring him out some chips and salsa if he wanted it (I was headed for Chelinos.) His response? "Nah, I don't like their salsa." and he turn around to walk away.

!?!?!?

Picky picky...

Sounds like the same guy that got me outside Bricktown Brewery. Had to have a giant size coney value meal...

[allseeingeye]

As much as this city is investing in cleaning up the city, they best investment would be to build a new city rescue mission SOUTH of the river to get rid of the panhandlers downtown. The homeless shelter is way too close to the upscale entertainment district.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

I was approached by a guy last night in bricktown. He said, "Hey can you spare some money so a guy can get a bite to eat?" I said no, but that I would bring him out some chips and salsa if he wanted it (I was headed for Chelinos.) His response? "Nah, I don't like their salsa." and he turn around to walk away.

!?!?!?

Picky picky...

Well...It DOES kinda suck.

[mikekrauss]

Well here is my story. It happened a few years back when I worked downtown. I had gotten some meal tickets from the Salvation Army (Located just south of downtown on Robinson) to hand out to the panhandlers. I thought this was a great idea. One of the panhandlers approached my group looking for money. I gave him one of those tickets and looked at me and said "Hell, I know where to get a meal, I need cigarettes and beer."

Two of the ladies that worked in the office said they were actually threaten by a panhandler with getting their throats slit if they didn't cough up some money.

[Easy180]

Two of the ladies that worked in the office said they were actually threaten by a panhandler with getting their throats slit if they didn't cough up some money.

Well you do have to give it up to the guy...That right there is quite a sales pitch

[Mike]

I beleive if we had decent resting and eating places for panhandlers, they would slow down. I have gone to school downtown and worked within seven blocks of reno for 52 years. No matter what reason they give you, most of them spend the money on alcohol or drugs as they can eat free at saint anthony's, salvation army, jusus house and other places. Give them an alternative then enforce it.

[BailJumper]

I beleive if we had decent resting and eating places for panhandlers, they would slow down.

What? We have clean shelters and food pantries all over the downtown area. Qhat would you suggest, a 5-star hotel and restaurant just for panhandlers?

I like the cops approach on I-35. I see him all the time pulling up on panhandlers and giving them a hard time until they leave.

[briac]

This is my first post on this board, but I was reading this discussion about panhandlers, and noticed that there wasn't anyone stressing that this is a very important economic development issue. There was a poster saying that they wouldn't consider moving downtown until the problem is solved. Trust me, there are many other people thinking the same thing, and as this continues to keep individuals out of the downtown housing market it filters through to supermarket and retail interest in the area, and further on to midsize to large companies relocating to the downtown OKC area. This is an economic development issue as well as a safety issue, and it needs to be addressed with typical Oklahoma compassion, but with authority and continued focus on enforcement.

[metro]

I agree that this issue needs to be addressed correctly, but a few things of note:

1.) The problem isn't so much in Bricktown as it is west downtown (near the shelters)

2.) Anyone using that excuse isn't completely serious about wanting to be downtown. Look at any other major city, I can show you alot more homeless. Ever been to Miami?? Heck you have homeless living on the street sleeping on mattresses and all sorts of things 1 block away from American Airlines Center and Bayside Mall. I was in Philly and New York recently and saw homeless there as well. Last time I checked, those places weren't hurting for people to live in the core of the city.

The real problem is "Perception" or "perceived problems". Just like the whole "parking problem" we supposively have. The data shows there is nowhere near a problem, but many people say there is a problem. These people are the infrequent visitors of downtown, the vocal minority if you will, yet the stupid OKC media often listens to them instead of the frequent visitors or workers/residents of downtown.

[Midtowner]

metro, I think different places carry different expectations for interactions with the homeless. While Philadelphia or Portland may be places where the populace are naturally okay with homeless roaming the streets, keep in mind, most Oklahoma Citians are suburbanites at heart. We want all of the cool things about downtown and none of the bad.

Also, it is worth mentioning that the homeless on the west side of the city are found in greater numbers and concentration than what you'd find in many larger cities.

"Perceived problems" become real problems when they forestall growth.

-- or do you actually think that the only reason downtown hasn't expanded south of I-40 is because the highway is some sort of impassable barrier?

[metro]

I agree Midtowner, but it seems like you're agreeing with me just in different words. You call it "suburban mindset" I call it "perception", really it's the same thing. I agree most OKCitians (including ones who have come from more urban places have adopted the attitude you describe). Personally it does annoy me but I'm okay with it and I deal with it and don't let it stop me from wanting my downtown lifestyle. Heck, I even help them out when I can buy them food and such. I don't give them $$$ however.

I do strongly agree with your point that sadly and unnecessarily it has stalled growth in OKC. We hear all the time that I-40 is stalling south downtown growth which is total B.S. in my opinion, you're right it is the blight. Personally if enough developers had the balls to just develop some things south of the current I-40 it would progress naturally, but OKC is to new of a city to have the urban mindset other peer cities have.

[Midtowner]

I drove around south of I-40 yesterday just checking things out. If anything were to be developed down there, it would have to be done on a massive scale. It appears that law enforcement doesn't even patrol that area as I saw one spot where a homeless person had apparently pitched a tent right off of Robinson. I'd be a little wary about investing in property when my neighbor lived in a tent and was unchecked by police.

-- maybe he's homesteading?

At any rate, I have no clue what land values are south of I-40, but right now, I'd have to assume that land is relatively cheap. Were investors to buy and develop all or most of that land, I think it could be extremely successful. The city needs to start NOW so it can ensure there will be adequate green space, corridors for rail, etc. Drive down there sometime -- what a tremendous opportunity this city has to build something really special down there.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

You making fun of my tent jerkface?

Got a dollar?

[Easy180]

Oh gawd

Put the spray paint can down and walk away

Gold just ain't your color

[Midtowner]

You making fun of my tent jerkface?

Got a dollar?

No dude.. seriously.. nice tent.

(it was actually a pretty decent tent.. I suppose I would invest a lot of money in a tent I called "home" as well.)

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

No dude.. seriously.. nice tent.

(it was actually a pretty decent tent.. I suppose I would invest a lot of money in a tent I called "home" as well.)

Well..I DID spend a bit of money on it.