Has anybody noticed the ever growing problem near Beach/9A of panhandlers? I would use the word homeless but it does not appear to fit here. I think lazy would probably be more appropriate. It appears to be a group of middle age men working in shifts at the off ramps of 9A onto Beach Boulevard. I have also noticed some of them hanging out on the side of a vacant Exxon station nearby. This must be where they seek refuge when they aren't attempting to receive pity. One of them was rather aggresive and was walking up to the car window of some drivers. I tried to let it be to him that it wouldn't be a good idea to walk up to my car in the same manner. I have really noticed an increase in this activity the past week.
how can you judge them without knowing anything about them?
Easily. These guys are scumbag asshats and are more aggressive than the folks downtown. I posted about them in another thread and I imagine someone will probably shoot one of them before long. The day I went out there, one guy was standing in front of the cars not letting them go and then went car to car with his sign banging on their windshields. They're just a bunch of 30-somethings intimidating people into giving them money.
Quote from: fsu813 on May 01, 2009, 03:22:57 PM
how can you judge them without knowing anything about them?
See above.
Step 1: Put police on speed dial on cell.
Step 2: Call. Although pan-handling may not be illegal, blocking traffic in this aggressive manner is.
or
Step 1: Accelerate. :D
I especially like the somewhat attractive woman that hangs out at JTB and I-95, perhaps she will feel the heat soon and retire her pitch. She did scare off the TU paper hustlers, either that or Pat Yack could not pay them anymore with free ads.
I only saw a guy once at Beach and 9A but he did come up to the window (which isn't so cool).
I suppose people have to get more aggressive these days. I don't have the change to spare myself.
Quote from: fsu813 on May 01, 2009, 03:22:57 PM
how can you judge them without knowing anything about them?
:):):)
I never give money to the guys at Beach and 9A. They are way too aggressive. I used to give change to the bums at the Hess on Emerson and Philips... until one time, I guess I didn't have enough change, and the guy got angry! Another guy, back when I was in college, refused to take pennies (it was all I had)!
Panhandle if you gotta, but don't snap at me when I don't give you enough free money!
At a Shell Station on the corner of Ponce de Leon and Boulevard last week (in Atlanta)
a thirtyish guy was asking everyone at the place if they could
"buy him three or four gallons of gas". He had a new pickup with an Arkansas plate.
When I ignored him and started to leave, he said, "I guess you're just not a Christian".
There is danger in feeding the seagulls. You will often get pooped on.
And it tends to gather more seagulls... (cawcaw)
You tend to get more of anything you spend money on. Please don't give panhandlers any money. You are being an enabler and creating a problem for people who live or have businesses in the area.
My wife has to deal with these people on a daily basis when she's driving to work. They scare her. I can't believe there are no regulations or laws banning panhandling in traffic or approaching stopped vehicles for money.
Where is she being harrassed, Ken?
Quote from: KenFSU on September 12, 2009, 03:41:53 PM
My wife has to deal with these people on a daily basis when she's driving to work. They scare her. I can't believe there are no regulations or laws banning panhandling in traffic or approaching stopped vehicles for money.
There are laws...just depends on whether the cops are around at the time (and, if given cop(s) choose to do anything about it. Panhandling/begging obstructing a road to do the previous are all against the law. Most cases a municipal ordinance violation. If the turd is real persistent and has priors it will turn into a criminal case.
If they approach your car roll up the windows and ignore them.....if they bitch.. LEAN ON YOUR HORN!!! (even better for those that have those train horns.)
If someone had to encounter them every day, I would just make up a sign saying "UN-EMPLOYED"...Or just plain "BROKE"
Begging itself is not illegal. Only if blocking traffic or standing in a right of way.
If not already on the books...being a turd (not factoring for the ones that are career criminals etc) should at least carry a MM penalty (as opposed to the civil ordinance violations that that they rack up with their repetitive trespass, drinking in public etc charges). The majority of these folks are not only annoying but way aggressive and in some cases quite dangerous.
Maybe I'm reminiscing too much from the Englewood thread, but when I worked as a waitress in high school off University & Richard Rd, the I-95 / University Blvd. panhandlers raked in more dough than the wait staff did. I know little has changed since then. While I sympathize with the local homeless population, I have little sympathy for the professional panhandlers who make well above minimum wage, don't declare and pay taxes on their income, and curse at people who try ignore their little scams.
During a visit to Sanfrancisco a couple of years ago my wife & I witnessed many panhandling attempts- and yes,some of the individuals proved aggressive and dangerous.
Interesting- no panhandlers in China Town.
In Miami panhandlers openly fought for the rights to certain lucrative roadway intersections....I would love to see a demographic study that could profile why some areas prove more lucrative than others.
Panhandling is outlawed in some cities, although there are always sympathizers who claim that it penalizes poverty. Ordinances in Nashville, Fayetteville and St. Pete make it illegal to panhandle aggressively anywhere in the city, or in certain tourist-frequented zones or near ATMs.
Sometimes it is fairly easy to spot the scams from the genuine. For example, there is a woman in a wheelchair with her husband alongside her on US 1 downtown St. Augustine. Other times, I see the same couple, this time the man is in the wheelchair and his wife is standing alongside.
But I do have a profound compassion for the ones that are obvious veterans who resort to begging. Most of us would be surprised to know the number of panhandlers who have served this country but somehow have fallen through the cracks.
QuotePanhandling is outlawed in some cities, although there are always sympathizers who claim that it penalizes poverty. Ordinances in Nashville, Fayetteville and St. Pete make it illegal to panhandle aggressively anywhere in the city, or in certain tourist-frequented zones or near ATMs.
I think I read somewhere recently that Gainesville was ranked as one of the most unfriendly cities towards the homeless.
Cricket, most of those "veterans" you see begging are either lying, or if they are over fifty, were drafted and spent their two years in the Army against their will. It's usually just another ploy like the wheelchair.
I agree, DW. Most of the "homeless veterans" that I have come into contact with can't give a legitimate unit that they were assigned to, or their age does not make it possible for them to have served in the theatre that they claim. The real "homeless veteran" is more myth than real IMHO. Although many veterans are homeless, they fall in line statistically with the general population as far as numbers and the causes (usually substance abuse and/or mental health issues) in my experience.
There is a guy at 9A/UNF Drive with a sign that says "Need Money for Gas". He has been there everyday this week.
Thanks for the eye-opener. I'll be a bit more skeptical of these panhandlers in fatigue shirts. I heard recently of a local organization looking to match the skills of some of these unemployed returning vets with potential job interviewers and that some companies are eager to sign up with this agency (maybe someone knows more about this organization.)
I haven't seen them recently but some folks were running a scam at Wal-Marts. You know how various groups set up donation tables at the entrances (I think Wal-Mart runs them off now), there used to be one that said it was a veteran's group and they had guys with crew cuts standing out there asking for money. One guy had a mishmash of knock-off US camo with a woodland top and tigerstripe pants. The other idiot out there was dressed in freaking German flecktarn. He asked me to donate. I asked him what rank he held in the bundewehr. He looked confused and walked off.
I wondered if these jerkbags are the same scum that run the "Allied Veteran" gambling halls?
Quote from: north miami on November 11, 2009, 06:43:10 AM............In Miami panhandlers openly fought for the rights to certain lucrative roadway intersections....I would love to see a demographic study that could profile why some areas prove more lucrative than others............
Back in the late 80s early 90s there was a murder at Wells Rd and Blanding. Two panhandlers killed the third cause he was moving into their corner. I forgot the daily "take" but it equalled what I was making working full time.
I recall Miami Herald reports to the effect that the annual take at one particular area was on the order of about $60,000
Moral of the stories above; do not, DO NOT, give money to panhandlers! Unless, of course, you are the kind of person who would buy booze for your alcoholic brother.
If you want to help those who are ready to help themselves, rather than live the "homeless" lifestyle, then contribute your time and/or money to somebody like Goodwill. Salvation Army is supported by McDonalds so they don't need your money.
I take 9A home from work now, and the panhandling at 9A and Beach creates legitimate safety concerns. I routinely see three or four cars blatantly running the red light to avoid having to stop next to one of these people. My sympathies have always been with the homeless, but something about this particular location just screams organized enterprise to me. This corner desperately needs to be cleaned up.
I actually saw one of the guys getting arrested a few weeks back but the other ones in the crew are still out there. They have even started looking for pity at the 9A/Town Center-UNF exit.
"How can we keep love alive
How can anything survive
When these little minds tear you in two
What a town without pity can do"
Gene Pitney
Maybe they should all move to st johns town center and start working those corners. Maybe that will actually lend a genuine "town" quality to that area. God knows we deal with them enough in Riverside. I've seriously considered renting a party bus, loading up with panhandlers and seeing how the Louis Vuitton folks deal with the real world.
SOILENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!
Saw a guy strumming a guitar at an intersection yesterday, asking for money. If they want to entertain me at the stop light, that is worth a couple of bucks.
Quote from: buckethead on December 10, 2009, 10:16:52 PM
SOILENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!
Are you suggesting that we process panhandlers & bums for dog food?
I think it's only fair to ask all citizens to contribute as best they can.
From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
Or as they say in the property appraisal business, "highest and best use". :D
Quote from: mtraininjax on December 11, 2009, 09:56:12 AM
Saw a guy strumming a guitar at an intersection yesterday, asking for money. If they want to entertain me at the stop light, that is worth a couple of bucks.
Just wait until I get desperate enough to play guitar at traffic lights. You'll gladly pay me NOT to play.
I'm pretty sure my singing would net me even more cash. "Stop! For the love of God stop singing! I'll pay you anything!"
The "playing guitar" thing doesn't work. All that will happen is that someone smashes your guitar. Selling bottles of water *can* work, but it is a lot of effort. A "homeless veteran" sign usually works best. It is just a matter of location. The panhandlers just follow the development. Downtown is just too crowded with homeless. There is nobody to give you anything.
I would prefer body flashing if I am going to hand over money.
Quote from: FLDrifter on December 11, 2009, 01:52:45 PM
The "playing guitar" thing doesn't work. All that will happen is that someone smashes your guitar. Selling bottles of water *can* work, but it is a lot of effort. A "homeless veteran" sign usually works best. It is just a matter of location. The panhandlers just follow the development. Downtown is just too crowded with homeless. There is nobody to give you anything.
is this speaking from experience?
Quote from: Karl_Pilkington on December 11, 2009, 02:24:38 PM
Quote from: FLDrifter on December 11, 2009, 01:52:45 PM
The "playing guitar" thing doesn't work. All that will happen is that someone smashes your guitar. Selling bottles of water *can* work, but it is a lot of effort. A "homeless veteran" sign usually works best. It is just a matter of location. The panhandlers just follow the development. Downtown is just too crowded with homeless. There is nobody to give you anything.
is this speaking from experience?
I hope so, I'm taking notes...
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.
Quote from: mtraininjax on December 11, 2009, 01:54:14 PM
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.
Quote from: KenFSU on December 11, 2009, 03:53:31 PM
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?
Quote from: copperfiend on December 14, 2009, 09:18:01 AM
Quote from: mtraininjax on December 11, 2009, 01:54:14 PM
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.
scared to ask what you saw.....
Well, it involved a trench coat and a toothless crackhead.
Nah! Toothless = meth tweeker!
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).
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.
Quote from: DavidWilliams on December 15, 2009, 08:37:35 PM
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.
QuoteI'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!
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.