Kurt, before I delve into this subject, I need to ask you a favor: my car broke down this evening, so I have to ride the bus tomorrow. However, I left my ATM card in the machine down in Austin last weekend! Plus, my bank went broke! They FDIC’ed outta here! So, I can not withdrawal any money, and I spent all my spare change on Reese’s peanut butter cups…..and I was wondering if you would be kind enough to loan me $5 for the round-trip fare.

No?!?!?!?

Ok I will admit it: I already have a February Metro pass! I am really going to spend the $5 on booze!!!!! I can get a 12 pack of PBR from Shop-n-Slave, which should last me an hour or so…..and I will promise to bum the next $5 off someone else.

NOW WAIT A MINUTE MISTER: if you don’t loan me the money, I will have nothing better to do than follow you around, screaming things like “nobody tells a Navy man when he’s had enough to drink, ‘cuz ONLY a Navy man KNOWS when he has had too much to drink”…..and that kind of jive.

(Moral of the story: this law is a good idea. Even for Libertarian Anarchists like me!)

LOL! Rob definitely sounds like an old hand with panhandlers.

Hmmm, I think I was hit up for cash by that guy…….

If they don’t panhandle, how are they supposed to get working people’s money for nothing…oh right, welfare. sounds to me like they are double-dipping.

I think the law should be that you are not allowed to give money to pan-handlers unless they dance for you first. like the good ol’ days. Now that I would toss a pocket-full of change for.

Ha! Now I know how to push Rob’s buttons and get him to talk to a republican. Just bring in the “pro panners”. Something in common finally…
Seriously, it does get to be too much when they invade your space, or go mental on you. Even if it’s just a screen to let their partner pick your whatever with the diversion. But if we do that law thing, I would like to request that it include anti-choice folks picketing clinics. I remember when I was just past high school and heading for a doctor’s appointment in the central west end and a group came a shouting in my face. Because there was a clinic in the building (never mind there were several medical offices too) and I was young, they must have figured I was there for a termination. It took me almost ten minutes to get past them and I was late for my appointment. My doc was pissed and said they did that all the time. I was about to pop them one for the ultimate invasion of space, but I had been taught to tolerate the simple-minded. This law reminded me of them since I was in that area for the first time in years recently and they were still out there, going ballistic in front of their spawn. Around here it is more suburban and the panners sit near stoplights with a cute little sign. One guy has been a regular for years and makes it a full time job. You know those folks are a lot like politicians once you think about it.

Will this do away wiht those guys that phone at home for money?

Who is going to enforce this new law? We can’t seem to even arrest the crack deals that go down in full public view. I think it would just be another meaningless, ineffectual law on the books. My last “touch” came from a dude sitting outside of a White Castle at a table. He had a bag of sliders he was eating and wearing a $100 pair of sneakers. He asked me for money so he could get something to eat…Ha Ha!

I’m originally from NY. If you think St. Louis has “aggressive panhandlers” you need to think again. The last thing we need around here is more laws. What we really need is a reality check, and maybe a bit of toughening up.

One, I don’t like panhandlers and I wish they would go away (or could be made to do so).

Two, many cities have tried to “outlaw” or “curb” the practice, but have been thwarted in their efforts by successful “free-speech” arguments.

Three, you also have to make sure the laws are enforced equitably - a fire fighter or a girl scout soliciting for a good cause could be accused of “aggressive solicitation”, and that potential can have a chilling effect on the fund-raising efforts of non-profits.

And four, the real solution lies with us, the public. Panhandling only “works” because some people DO continue to believe their sob stories and give them money. It’s really quite simple - just say “No!”. If no one supports them, they will disappear pretty quickly!

re Mike (7) The reason New York has such an enormous problem with panhandlers is because ALL OF THEM are panhandlers! From the guys at the street corners selling toilet paper and toys, to the toll booth attendents taking your spare change, to the PIRG trustafarians knocking at your door, to the boiler room stockbrokers cold calling you, and to Rudy Guilliani asking for money for his presidential “campaign” they are all beggers I say!

Now, if the panhandlers want to put on a show of some sort, like they do in New Orleans or Paris, I am totally willing to part with my money!

When I lived in Santa Monica, the homeless were everywhere. They “lived” in Pallisades Park along Ocean Avenue, from the Pier north and way beyond Wilshire Avenue, setting up makeshift cardboard “houses”, deficating and urinating wherever convenient. Litter followed their every move. But they seldom panhandled. And I’m sure there is a reason why they didn’t. In downtown LA, however, it was just the opposite.

I suggest that someone contact the Santa Monica, CA City Hall to discuss the laws they may have enacted to control panhandling in beautiful Santa Monica.