We just received this via company email. Made me chuckle. Good thing our office is not downtown. So I guess a guy is not alowed to buy a soda on a hot day and enjoy it so much that says he will be back for lunch. The Cafe is open to the public and is used by many offices in the area.
QuoteWe have been informed that there is a transient that has been hanging around Butler Plaza. It was reported to us one day last week, we investigated and saw the man leaving the property and heading down Belfort. We thought that he had left, but it was reported to us that he was back today. Even more disturbing was the report that he went into the café to buy a soda and stated that he had been given money by someone on the property and would be back for lunch. This is a situation that we at Liberty do not want to continue. For the safety of all our tenants, we do not want to become a gathering place for transient individuals. If you or any of your fellow colleagues are approached and asked for money, refuse, and immediately report the incident to our office. We will take the appropriate steps to ensure that this individual is escorted off the property. No type of solicitation is allowed on Liberty property per Municipal Code and it is posted at all entrances to the parking lot. Please assist us in keeping your workplace free of undesirable distractions and possible safety issues. Please share this with all your fellow colleagues.
Thank you for your understanding and assistance.
Ahhh!!! Pretty soon it will be overrun with people 'drinking sodas' and 'eating lunch'. I work about a half mile from the property, so I'll alert my colleagues.
I was worried after I saw this because I borrowed a couple of bucks from my co-worker to cover cover the cost of my lunch. I hope the property company doesn't find out.
Yeah i saw that guy walking around here. I'm used to panhandlers being that I’ve lived all around Riverside/Downtown/San Marco, but this guy did stand out a bit in a sterile office park setting.
He had to go out of his way to get here, as opposed those who don't stray too far from the homeless shelters downtown.
They've had a few bomb/death threats at this property so the landlords are just paranoid it's a disgruntled borrower a local tenant (mortgage company) forclosed on.
Seriously, we've had people knock at the door screaming for someone's head. The last time I worked for such a hated company it had the letters "J E A" on the front of the building :D
I work in the building behind you then. I have seen him eating at the Chic Fil A at JTB and US1.
Wow.
So the message here is...people who cannot afford lunch need not be helped out by fellow humans who can afford to spare a dime. Undesirable people must be bannished from the immediate vincinity of those who can claim home ownership and swipe a debit card.
Disgusting.
It does sound harsh, but I live in midtown Atlanta, arguably 2nd worst neighborhood in the country behind downtown Atlanta for homeless, and (to clear my conscious) I like to help them at the shelters, but I refuse to buy them anything or give them money. That is simply common sense and anyone who has lived around a lot of homeless or grew up around them knows that it only hurts them in the long run. They are a little like wild alligators or bears in that you start feeding them and they start becoming dependent and bad things start happening from there. They can be helped with proper guidance and centers like Sulzbacher (where incidentally they can get free food, too).
Last time I helped a homeless man, he actually took me up on my offer to buy him food (usually they prefer straight cash bc food is not always on their agenda and they know where to get it), he cost me over $10 at a gas station wth those cheap sandwiches and sodas. The guy got more of a meal than I give myself and I felt a little jipped, but I did not want to say NO, too much food there.
On this topic, I struggle.. There are folks out there who really are down and out far more than any of us. And I would gladly help out someone in that predicament. Then there are those who "pretend"to be down and out and fool us. Its difficult to tell the fakes from the real. This very situation happened to me .. One evening at a Regency restaurant... two days later the same person , telling a sob story confronted me at Comp USA.... I didnt buy it the second time.
Its hard to tell ... I guess follow your heart .
So one of em got out of the DT holding center? They shoulda just called JSO and reported a breach in the fence, as this dood obvisouly was disturbing the gentle suburban , even though he apparently was a paying customer '-)
One of the biggest deterrents from suburbanites visiting downtown (hemming plaza) is the vagrant presence. Property owners are wise to use any legal means to discourage vagrancy on their properties.
As humans we have a responsibility to help those who cannot fend for themselves, while (the tricky part) not becoming enablers for those who can.
God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
I don't understand what so hard about not giving money out to strangers. I've heard so many stories, excuses, reasons, etc.... I say, "No thank you", and keep moving - it's not that hard. If everyone would just ignore them, then they wouldn't be so prevalent, imo.
Anyone seen Shirley Green AKA Stinky Boo Boo around the area? Shes been outta the Riverside limelight for a while now. I hear she has a Bentley and lives in Deerwood.
http://www.jacksonvilleconfidential.com/2008/12/come-out-come-out-wherever-you-are.html
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on August 10, 2010, 09:35:29 AM
I don't understand what so hard about not giving money out to strangers. I've heard so many stories, excuses, reasons, etc.... I say, "No thank you", and keep moving - it's not that hard. If everyone would just ignore them, then they wouldn't be so prevalent, imo.
It is difficult to tell people who are truly down and out and in need.. from those who COULD do for themselves , but take the path of begging.
Whether or not the person is for real or a fake , is not my call.. If I have a couple of dollars to spare and think they need it to eat, ill gladly hand it over.. If it turns out they just use the money for a drug fix, I gave it in good faith , thinking they were down and out.
Some people do not care in either scenario.. They are all about themself and could care less if another person starves. So be it. I cannot personally live with that.
Nice post, Timkin.
Quote from: buckethead on August 10, 2010, 06:48:51 PM
Nice post, Timkin.
Thank you Buckethead. Its from the heart. Its really nice of you to say that. I am not that well-liked over here anymore.. But I have always meant well . :)
My husband saw a transient at a Taco Bell some time last year. He saw the guy buy a single taco using loose change. He approached him and asked him if he was still hungry and asked him if he could buy him lunch. The guy started to cry he was so thankful. Sometimes people really are down on their luck. This wasn't downtown either by the way.
Another time at the corner of Forsyth and Ocean I had a guy ask me for some money for some cigarettes. I don't approve of smoking, I think its bad for your health but I gave the guy a dollar for being honest at least.
No one starves in Jacksonville. Multiple daily free meals are available. One of the shelters even runs a delivery service. All one has to do is loiter in Hemming Park and do-gooders from all over North Florida will shower you with snacks and other goodies. Wise-up. Alms are for alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. Don't give money to bums. You are ruining the community by doing so.
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