Burgeoning panhandling community near Beach/9A

[KenFSU]

When I was at FSU, there was a semi-famous panhandler who wrote poetry about his experiences in life and in prison. He would approach you, recite one of his poems, and then offer to sell you a hard copy for 50 cents. Quite talented guy, actually. That's the type of panhandler I can get behind.

[copperfiend]

I would prefer body flashing if I am going to hand over money.

Not if you saw what I saw while I was at the red light in front of the T-U building a few years ago.

[lindab]

When I was at FSU, there was a semi-famous panhandler who wrote poetry about his experiences in life and in prison. He would approach you, recite one of his poems, and then offer to sell you a hard copy for 50 cents. Quite talented guy, actually. That's the type of panhandler I can get behind.

And, did you?

[billy]

I would prefer body flashing if I am going to hand over money.

Not if you saw what I saw while I was at the red light in front of the T-U building a few years ago.

[billy]

scared to ask what you saw.....

[copperfiend]

Well, it involved a trench coat and a toothless crackhead.

[Dog Walker]

Nah!  Toothless = meth tweeker!

[blfair]

Got approached by a panhandler at the Walgreens near beach/9a... a tip for would-be panhandlers don't ask for money within spitting distance of a liquor store (right next to the Walgreens).

[DavidWilliams]

Don't let them invade your personal space. As you are probably well aware, for the most part they are not folks "temporarily down because of this economy". Their general intent is to intimidate at the least...strong arm robbery at the worst. They want your money and valuables. Most are seasoned criminals and con artists.

This shit is out of control downtown as well.   

[copperfiend]

Don't let them invade your personal space. As you are probably well aware, for the most part they are not folks "temporarily down because of this economy". Their general intent is to intimidate at the least...strong arm robbery at the worst. They want your money and valuables. Most are seasoned criminals and con artists.

This shit is out of control downtown as well.   

The beaches too. I was eating outside at Bukkets a few months ago and watched this homeless guy asking for money by standing in front of people and not letting them by. Sad part was there was a cop about 50 feet away doing nothing. It wasn't until I walked up to him and asked why this was able to happen that he went over and told the loser to stop.

[mtraininjax]

I've seriously considered renting a party bus, loading up with panhandlers and seeing how the Louis Vuitton folks deal with the real world.

I would buy the first 20 gallons of fuel for it. We could load it up with bar service and bus them out for a day at SJTC. Man would that piss off a lot of people there. Sounds like the kind of thing to make the local 5 o'clock news. I'm in!

[thekillingwax]

To be honest, they'd just have security escort them off if they're begging. SJTC is private property, right? It wouldn't be any different than someone begging at the mall. Seems a little odd to want to penalize someone for not having trouble with them- like being pissed your toilet doesn't work so you go take a dump on an electrician's porch.

As long as they aren't begging they could go around and do whatever but then it turns into a case of "look what you can't have!" and that's kinda mean. Hell, I can't afford to shop at most of the places out there.