Is Coaches Corner Sports Bar another Landing failure?

[ChriswUfGator]

The sheer number of them downtown is definitely scary...

A year or two ago, my dad was in downtown Jacksonville for a settlement negotiation at lawyer's office that lasted until 7 or 8 at night. He's not up here that much, so I hopped in the car and picked up some Larry's Giant Subs and drove downtown to sit in the car for 20 minutes and eat with him, you know just to say hi.

While we were sitting in his car talking and munching on the sandwiches, 5 or 6 different bums banged on the window asking for money, all within 20 minutes. There were cops around, but they don't seem to care. I wouldn't want to walk very far downtown at night, not necessarily because I'm afraid, but more because who really wants to deal with all these random people trying to guilt-trip you and yelling/cursing at you?

It seems like a lot of the ones who aren't disabled are really just putting their own needs over everyone else's. They don't care about the business owners whose sales are being affected when people won't go there because they don't want to get panhandled, and they don't care about the bills I have to pay, or the fact that I have to use my money to put food on my own table. Most of them have drug or alcohol problems, and hitting people up for money is just the fastest and easiest way to get what they want.

The Riverside Publix finally hired a full-time armed security guard just to run them off, and ditto with the building that Al's and 5 Guys occupies. There always used to be several lurking around waiting to hit you up for money or yell at you if you didn't give any. Going to the SunTrust ATM, I got panhandled the guy called me a liar when I told him I had no cash. He pointed out that he just saw me go to the ATM. I was like "Yeah, no offense man, but that thing only spits out $20's and I'm not giving you a $20." His response? "No problem I've got change, can u give me $5?". Seriously. WTF.

Since the guards were hired, it's been a lot better, but now each one of those landlords is paying $40k/yr or whatever a full time armed guard costs.

[copperfiend]

They are like the zombies in Dawn of the Dead.

[ChriswUfGator]

more like the zombies in 28 days later.

I know you were just kidding, but your comment is more true than you realize.

They really are VERY aggressive around here, much more so than I've experienced in other places. I am amazed at some of them, who argue and curse at you, and won't take "no" for an answer. The bad attitude and sense of entitlement leave me speechless.

[copperfiend]

They are like the zombies in Dawn of the Dead.

Actually, you are right.

[RiversideLoki]

The ones in Riverside are getting especially aggressive lately. It's not like there's a lack of social services to help people. The simple fact is that most panhandlers make more money off of panhandling than they would make at a minimum wage job. And guess what? It's tax free! While no survey has been done in Jacksonville to prove this point, you can simply look to this post to see how bad the problem is. The average panhandler makes 125 to 200 dollars per day with an upper range of 300 dollars a day!

It's a law of averages thing. You hit up as many people as possible to maximize your gains. When you hang out in a specific area though, you tend to see the same people over and over.

Spend the money on booze, get wasted. Lather, rinse, repeat.

[BridgeTroll]

Excellent link!

[copperfiend]

Which is more demeaning? Panhandling or being a human condo billboard?

[Jason]

Panhandling.  At least the billboard holders are performing a service for their money.

[thekillingwax]

With money being tight, it's only going to get worse. Last weekend we were coming off of 9A onto Beach and there were guys on both off-ramps. The one on our side was just sitting there but on the other side was this young guy and he was knocking on windows and trying to keep cars from moving forward. About a month ago I was coming through downtown pretty late and I think I was at the redlight that's at Jefferson and Bay and I'm sitting there and out of the blue pops up Mary or whatever her name is that used to troll the riverside area. She must've walked up from behind but I look up and she's no more than six inches away from the car knocking on my window.

Some of these dumbasses are going to wind up hurt or killed and it's their own damned fault.

[ChriswUfGator]

Well it just happened again...

I'm coming back across the I-95 bridge from eating dinner in San Marco, and at the Park street exit there's a young guy in a blue jacket standing on the side of the off-ramp. He was on the left, and unfortunately it worked out that I was the only car at the light, so I purposely took the right lane to put some distance between us, and just tried to ignore him while I waited at the light. So he starts yelling at me "hey...man...HEY MAN" and I kept ignoring him.

Next thing I know, he's scurrying my way and yelling "HEY, DON'T YOU HEAR ME TALKING TO YOU", and getting ready to start banging on my window. I'd had enough of this $h!t for one day, and glanced for oncoming traffic and then just hit the gas and ran the light so I didn't have to deal with his B.S. He was still yelling and gesturing with his hands as I drove away, and though I couldn't quite catch it, I can't imagine it was anything polite. This was no more than 20 minutes ago, he's probably still out there.

ENOUGH of this crap already. Where are the cops?

[tufsu1]

seems to me that you should be thankful the cops weren't around!

[civil42806]

Well it just happened again...

I'm coming back across the I-95 bridge from eating dinner in San Marco, and at the Park street exit there's a young guy in a blue jacket standing on the side of the off-ramp. He was on the left, and unfortunately it worked out that I was the only car at the light, so I purposely took the right lane to put some distance between us, and just tried to ignore him while I waited at the light. So he starts yelling at me "hey...man...HEY MAN" and I kept ignoring him.

Next thing I know, he's scurrying my way and yelling "HEY, DON'T YOU HEAR ME TALKING TO YOU", and getting ready to start banging on my window. I'd had enough of this $h!t for one day, and glanced for oncoming traffic and then just hit the gas and ran the light so I didn't have to deal with his B.S. He was still yelling and gesturing with his hands as I drove away, and though I couldn't quite catch it, I can't imagine it was anything polite. This was no more than 20 minutes ago, he's probably still out there.

ENOUGH of this crap already. Where are the cops?

Have a convertible and always make it a point to NEVER have the top down when driving through downtown just for that reason.

[tufsu1]

well to get the thread back on topic, Karlene's opened yesterday...I plan on going there for breakfast tomorrow before heading down to the RAP

[BridgeTroll]

I stopped at the Landing Friday for lunch at Cinco de Mayos.  The place was very busy yet the waiter greeted me quickly and took my order.  Food came out hot and was quite good.  Stopped by Karlenes and there seemed to be quite a few folks eating lunch... will have to give it a try.

[Southbanker]

A couple of friends and I had breakfast at Karlene's before walking down to the artist market this morning.  It was ok, not great, but ok.  I will definitely go back.  They are obviously working out the kinks so I am sure it will improve.

Heck, it is about the only real breakfast option in downtown other than the hotels.

And we were not bothered by any homeless at all during the entire day.  I walk around downtown 1-2 times a week.  Long walks.  I always see the homeless, but they usually do not ask for anything.  When they do I say "I have no money" (which is usually true) and that is the end of it.  I think that happens to me about 1 out of every 7 walks.