Opinion Talk

By Charles

April 24, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this

The solution is easy - just ignore them. Whenever I am downtown I never look in their eyes and keep moving. If you ignore them eventually they’ll move on. They’re not going to stay someplace that supports their drug and alcohol addictions.

By STEVE

April 24, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this

charles I guess you didn’t read the part about how they follow people. We have huge problems with these people, and the city (and sorry to say because they are overworked, police) has a soft spot for them. If you live in the city you might understand. Its hard to ignore some guy p** on your doorstep.

By RJ

April 24, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this

First thing that should be done is stop using the term “homeless”. It is descriptive of a symptom of the problem, not the root cause. If your house burns down, you’re homeless. If an individual is just too doggone lazy to work, or is on the streets because of a drug or alcohol addiction and/or a mental illness, he is a vagrant. (Look it up on webster.com.)

Second thing is to organize a concerted campaign to get everyone to stop giving them money. I am told that Athens has kiosks in the square which allow individuals to donate money to assist with shelter, food, and clothing, with signs admonishing folks not to give directly to panhandlers. Why not do the same here?

This will drive those who are truly in need to the Gateway Center, the multi-million dollar complex established by the city with services to address a range of needs. So, the needy get help, and the scam artists get nothing.

Finally, there should be zero tolerance for “urban camping” or anti-social behavior by those vagrants who simply don’t want to participate in society. Get help or get lost with a one-way ticket. Call it tough love.

By The Snark

April 24, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this

Five Points Station is an embarassment to Atlanta. It screams “trash” and “not in control.” The city too busy to care. The Mayor’s office always backs down when the homeless advocates make a fuss, but I’ve worked for years with the poor and homeless, and believe me we’re not helping them by letting them do whatever they want in the downtown district. Clean it up and keep it clean.

And while we’re at it … how about enforcing the state law against loud car stereos? It makes Atlanta seem like such a hostile and lawless place.

By G-lov

April 24, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this

i say arrest them all if they are caught panhandling. Have them pick up trash (most likely theirs) around the city, on highways or do community service type of jobs. If the city enforced the laws and/or have strict penalties for such activities, it might deter pahandlers from doing it.

By KioskRobber

April 24, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

Kiosks where people donate money??? this will only create another form of crime - whether the kiosks are manned or not, they will get robbed - Maybe in Athens but not in a metropolis like Atlanta - I just got back from NYC and I was taken aback by the police presence there - i was in every borough except the Bronx and there were cops EVERYWHERE you looked - WE NEED MORE BEAT COPS!!! - in the meantime I LOVE the idea of putting those ‘down on their luck’ to work sprucing up the city

By One Chris

April 24, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

Give them one way bus tickets anywhere they want for free! Also have them sign a statement that they will not return. Take a picture of them, fingerprint them and have the police issue a final warning to stay out of Fulton county. If they ever return arrested them for violating the order to stay gone. Mayor Franklin would never tell the truth but she is not stupid and knows it is a problem but she is busy screwing us over on water bills and higher taxes!!!

By James

April 24, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

Nothing! The ACLU (who along with the U.S. Supreme Court runs this country via judicial fiat) won’t allow it. So get used to it and have fun watching downtown Atlanta continue to deteriorate.

By woody

April 24, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

I remember when I worked downtown. The Woodruff Park area was a very nice place to eat lunch. Then the city sold the park to Georgia State. As a stipulation of the sale, the city told Georgia state they could not stop the vagrants from panhandling. This was during Campbells admin. Almost overnight Woodruff Park became the YMCA of BUMS. You couldnt eat in the park anymore. The gazebo that used to have band now had bums sitting hanging out pretending to play chess. They ruined to gd place. I know the the Atlanta Bread Co went under because of it. One time I offered a guy an unopened bag of cheetos he woundt take it he just wanted money for alcohol or drugs.

BTW I havent been to Woodruff park since 2002 is it still the same or has it changed.

By Davo

April 24, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

I was also surprised at NYC’s apparent lack of bums. Whatever it is they are doing needs to be applied here. When friends or relatives come into town for business I do not even entertain the thought of going out to dinner with them in downtown or midtown even; we go to Decatur or Va/highlands. The incentive is there to act…so why is the city doing nothing?

By GTJohn

April 24, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

RJ, I like your solution. It is reasonable, compassionate and directly addresses the problem.

By Cruzin

April 24, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

Atlanta has to stop thinking of homeless and pan handlers as gutter trash. They need love, kindness and booze. The best solution is to pack them off to San Francisco, a city that will worship them.

By woody

April 24, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

Question answered. From Cynthia column

“Unlike downtown’s Woodruff Park, a urine-drenched squatter’s camp”

By monkeyspankin

April 24, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

Good idea about putting them to work. I’m not against giving. Just would be nice to get something in return in this case. Have a list of simple tasks or chores (kind of like a city honey-do list) posted at Atlanta City Hall or local City Halls in areas with vagrant problems. This list could include washing city, county, or state vehicles; picking up trash in certian areas such as parks, roadways, etc. The completed task can then be redeemed for maybe a meal ticket, or one nights stay at a shelter, or a voucher for a shower shave and cut. I am just throwing out an idea. Just seems like it would be taking care of two birds with one stone. Would also keep those in need busy and off the streets. This would for sure seperate the deadbeats from those that truly want a hand up and not a hand out. Just a thought.

By peter scott

April 24, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

You’re right 1000 percent. It’s annoying and potentially dangerous.

By RMJ

April 24, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

Great point Monkeyspankin!!! I moved to the city in Dec. from the suburbs because of the progress of downtown. I am a native from Chicago and the city went through a similiar transition. We as citizens have to be consistent with the city officials to clean up the streets. We deserve better and so does the city.

BTW: I am loving the city!!

By Mel

April 24, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this

Monkey- Good idea. I also am all about hand up, not hand out. However, the biggest flaw in your suggestion is…UNIONS (or forms of it). The government workers that do these jobs will scream and yell if someone is horning in on their territory. Nevermind that there are probably too many employed and plenty of work to do that never seems to get done. I am NOT categorizing all gov’t. workers, but the fact remains it is a pretty sweet gig for the pay/benefits and what is required. Some work hard, but most feel entitled.

Alas, that is another topic. Staying on point, I think there has to be some form of kiosk system. The money goes where it needs to be and you don’t have able people begging for tax-free money instead of working.

By monkeyspankin

April 24, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this

Yeah, I am sure we would end up with a Vagrants Local 913 Chapter or International Brotherhood Of Vagrants Union. I got hassled yesterday at QT for a case dollar. I don’t even know what a case dollar is. Even if I had one I would not give it up. As for the Kiosks, I really don’t think Kiosks would get rid of the panhandling issue. Unless you give them something to fill their time with, they are still going to hussle you for any loose change outside the quicky mart. They need to be a contributing part of society. There is nothing wrong with pulling your own weight. I don’t think that is too much to ask.

By GeezGuys

April 24, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

American ingenuity rises to the occasion…ladies and gentlemen, the Bum-Bot!

By jeff

April 24, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

There was a big outcry about how “unfair” it was to have panhandling laws, because “the poor need money to live, too”. But it doesn’t mean they have to target visitors to Atlanta’s convention district, etc.

If they’re smart enough to know where the money is, then they should be smart enough to work. I say, arrest them for panhandling, then make them work for 30 days to get out of jail.

By gsustudent

April 24, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this

I think the best method, mentioned above is to ignore them and keep moving. Ignore random shouting, don’t respond to verbal attacks, and despite what Cynthia Tucker said above, do not put down, or respond unnecessarily negatively to the homeless. Some of these people are on the edge, and such comments can set them off. Your own safety is more important than making clever retorts.

By RJ

April 24, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

GTJohn, thanks for the compliment.

The kiosks idea is something that could be used as one prong of a full-scale initiative to discourage folks from giving money directly to the panhandlers. It would provide an avenue for giving money, funnel that money into resources for those truly in need, and eliminate the “does this guy really need the money or am I getting scammed” dilemma.

If everyone stopped giving to the panhandlers, it would dry up. (Will take a little time for the light bulb to go on, so it needs to be a concerted effort.)

KioskRobber, you’re saying we shouldn’t have large secure devices with money in them downtown because they will be robbed, right? Ever heard of an ATM?

By GaLiberal

April 24, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

This is just a symptom of the larger problem of economic decay in the US. Ever since Regan and the Rethuglicons declared their war on the poor. They and they alone are responsible for kicking millions from welfare and subsidized housing so they could ‘put themselves up by their bootstraps.’ Many wound up working for a substandard minimum wage (which the Rethuglicons opposed any effort to increase) and wound up being the working poor. Since they couldn’t afford a place to live, they lost their jobs and are now living on the streets. Another factor is that many mentally ill were forced from institutions. Without any support structure, they became homeless and can’t get the medication they need to function.

It’s worse here, because Atlanta does not have the financial means to run shelters and provide social services to these people. Many large cities collect income taxes to pay for additional city services due to the thousands that work here, but don’t pay property taxes. That leaves Atlanta residents holding the bag for the affluent suburbanites. Anytime Atlanta even thinks about a downtown/city tax, all the businesses threaten to pack up and leave. Another factor is Atlanta’s small size. For a major city, Atlanta is tiny compared to Chicago or New York so they don’t get as much in property taxes as these other cities. Any effort to annex more areas into Atlanta stopped cold by the Rethuglicon-controlled legislature.

The entitlement elitists in Snobb and N. Fulton counties believe it’s Atlanta’s problem; not theirs. They scream at any hint of a “tax” by Atlanta. Snobb county even goes further to keep the riffraff out with their blatantly racist anti-MARTA policy. They bus them in the morning to mow yards and clean houses then bus them out in the evening.

When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And the panhandlers in Atlanta are living proof.

By Jack Franklin

April 24, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

Tending to panhandlers is the mayor’s job. She knew that when she took the oath.

By gsustudent

April 24, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

^ Very good point. This is indeed a backlash from the Reagan years. Closing down asylums and reducing mental health aid can directly be linked to rise in homelessness…

By RealityKing

April 24, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

But Cythina…., aren’t these the very same people that generations of entitlements and handouts were suppose to help off the streets? Or is it what’s to be expected from giving out money and building $100,000 bathrooms for the homeless??

I seem to remember you thinking those were GREAT ideas…

By Thinking

April 24, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

Step one: Don’t give money… Handing out money on the steet is kind of like feeding pigeons. It seems fun and makes you feel good at first. Then the pigeons learn and you can’t get rid of them.

Step two: Support your local organizations that help the homeless and needy.

Step three: Refer people in need to the organizations that provide help. I have considered creating business cards myself to hand out with locations and contact info for a few organizations.

Another thing to do in addition to the above is to encourage street musicians. It is aweome in New Orleans. Some aren’t really good and others are awesome… I give to them all the time.

Just a few thoughts

By Bob

April 24, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

Great idea Cruzin!

San Fransico freely opens it’s pocket book for illegals. Surely they will welcome Atlanta’s homeless too!!

By tc

April 24, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

send them to IRAQ!!

By Steve

April 24, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this

. The Gas Stations at McDaniel and Whitehall and McDaniel and Northside Drive a Full of Vagrants …

Every time I drive past the gas station on McDaniel and Northside, you will see 30 (+) beggers hanging out, waiting for a hand-out …

Why is it you can’t go to a gas station in this city, without being harrassed by someone wanting your money?

I get so tired of being harrassed by beggers … .

By telfairgirl

April 24, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

Would you give money to someone walking down the street minding their business, not paying you any attention even if they were walking beside you? No. So why give money to someone walking beside you, close enough for you to smell them or behind you, almost on your heels, who is either berating, begging or yelling lewd comments about you. Ignore them. Don’t acknowledge them. Don’t give them anything! When the well runs dry people stop trying to get water from it. If you have to give money to someone, tip the college students who make your Starbucks every morning. Give it to the tip jar at the car wash for the folks who wipe off the pollen on your car. Tip the guy who makes your salad at lunch and always remember that you like extra olives. Respect those who work the low paying jobs by tipping them not those that do not work at all.

By dmcco01

April 24, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

The problem is disgraceful. I work at CNN Center and the walk to and from the Five Point Station is a gauntlet of beggars and slugabeds. I love Atlanta and it hurts my heart to imagine what tourists and conventioneers must think of us when they visit downtown. We must have policies in place, and enforced, to do away with not only panhandlers, but loiterers as well.

By slinkymalinky

April 24, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

Evidently Cynthia’s prejudices include derelicts, hustlers, panhandlers, street preachers, lunatics, “salesmen” and anyone else in her elitist way asking for help..

By JUNE_BABY

April 24, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

i understand the frustration people have with beggars! but don’t go too far overboard, because, there by the grace of god go i. a lot of us looking down our noses at other people, are only 2 or 3 missed paychecks from being homeless or vagrants ourselves!!! especially if we’re from some other city, and have no familial support here.

By Andrew W.

April 24, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

TC has the best idea. Send then to Iraq!

By SHAME

April 24, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

This city is a shhole and no one with any authority seems to care. I’ve lived here all of my life and I love Atlanta (well, more decatur, va highlands and east and north ways, not ATL per se), but until we hire a REAL Police chief, a REAL mayor, and get some REAL police this city will always be a shhole. Quit electing people because they’re black - start electing people because they are qualified to make some changes and take a hard line about improving our sh**hole of a city. Atlanta is an absolute embarrassment to any native.

By Andrew W.

April 24, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

“i understand the frustration people have with beggars! but don’t go too far overboard, because, there by the grace of god go i. a lot of us looking down our noses at other people, are only 2 or 3 missed paychecks from being homeless or vagrants ourselves!!” I actually was homeless for about a week. I took what ever job I could and moved into a rooming house. These BUMS don’t want to work! Don’t offer them any pity.

By SportsTalk

April 24, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

A different approach would be to make it unlawful for anyone to give money to another person in public. This would give everyone a legitimate excuse not to give. It would need to be widely publicized.

By Mel

April 24, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this

monkeyspankin, I like your voucher idea, but it would take away “good government jobs” from overqualified, unemployed Atlantans. LOL! God forbid any real work get done and the “vagrants” be the cause. Oh wait! The city’s under a “hiring freeze!” Maybe it could work…

By Cruzin

April 24, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

The Atl mayor and police chief are against the new law (HR89) allowing those with concealed hand gun permits the right to carry in area’s that are currently off limits. They are worried that more violence will result. How can you equate allowing law abiding citizens who have never been arrested to criminals. The bottom line. The mayor can’t seem to fix the homeless problem, the sewer problem, budget problem and is clearly on the criminals side. She and the chief both need to go!

By tn

April 24, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this

Business and residential growth will slow to a halt, decreasing the tax base, if the homeless are not dealt with. Two people have been nearly beat to death by homeless in the past. Homeless advocates are part of the problem and should not be listened to due to an unwillingness to come to terms with the volient nature of these homeless. Homeless people are a danger and pox to the health of the City of Atlanta.

By Volunqueer

April 24, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

Statistics have shown that a kid who ends up on the streets has 48 hours or less before they commit an illegal act in order to survive - panhandling is the least harmful.

It’s pretty easy to picture a “bum” or panhandler as a 40 something old drunk/abuser who hasn’t shaved or bathed in a while. But think of a 15 year old girl tossed out for getting pregnant, or a 16 year old boy tossed out just for being gay.

Don’t mistake homelessness as living in a cardboard box or abandoned building. It can also mean “couch surfing” with friends or other situation. Homelessness means no fixed address.

In short, consider ALL facets of the problem instead of just one or two. What are we doing about the fact that there is a serious shortage of shelter for children under 18 in Atlanta?

Here’s a statistic you should also keep in mind when discussing this issue:

13 homeless or streetkids die on the streets of America each day. Suicide, drug overdose, violence, neglected health are some of the causes.

This weekend is “48 Hours” weekend, observed by StandUp for Kids Atlanta, and other StandUp Chapters across the nation. Info at standupforkids.org.

By Sobecat

April 24, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

Put on headphones like from an Ipod. Then you can just ignore them without worrying about it.

By John

April 24, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

Holy crap, Cynthia! You’re actually stating the cold hard truth about Atlanta. Too bad it took you so long to recognize what many a folk have long recognized but dared not speak about because they might risk being called a racist. If I didn’t know your name was attached to this editorial, I would have sworn this was part of Neal’s News.

By Duke Doubleday

April 24, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this

Kudos to you for your enlightening position on Panhandlers!…If the State can protect Centennial Park, Atlanta should be able to take care of our streets.

By Sam

April 24, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

I am from Chicago, and frequent NYC often on business. Atlanta is NOT a cosmopolitan city like LA, Chicago, and NY. Atlanta is trashy. The downtown area is trashy. Friends who have visited me can’t believe how disgusting Atlanta is compared to their home cities. The downtown Atlanta area is a mess, a dangerous and dirty place to walk. Currently I work downtown, and I have to “literally” step over chicken-wing bones & needles when I walk down the sidewalk. Dirty & nasty city.
* Motivation to Relocate as soon as possible!! Atlanta was a bad move!

By DecaturDog

April 24, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this

GaLiberal….you are an idiot. Since you feel that way, why don’t you just hang out downtown and hand out your money since you are so enlightened and caring…sheesh

Sam: Sorry about Atlanta…as a native Atlantan, I am embarrassed by its’ condition. Hope you don’t move, but understand if you do.

I was just in California on the coast in several cities…even say many “homeless” in downtown Santa barbara..but not ONE of them hassled me or asked for anything. There is some different dynamic going on here and I suspect it is driven by lack of penalty for panhandling and lack of backbone by city government.

By Big D

April 24, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

Shame It’s clear you have been sheltered all your life and don’t understand much. If you went to court and saw what happens to the homeless and how the court system feels sorry for them you would understand how hard police work. Are you a police officer I think not you don’t have the heart. You shouldn’t talk down on any profession you would be scared to do. As much as you hate the homeless you can’t throw them away. We find a workable solution and go from there. You must not be far from them financially is that why you hate them so much you see yourself? Remember to live on earth you must walk with everyone.

By hrw

April 24, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this

Often, and very often…cities and communities don’t pay this much attention to “panhandling” until it is in their communities where business is booming. Then, we see a rush to move them, do away with them and want to have what is known as a place where only the people with money, dress, car’s go where they spend and spend! Well, everything you drive an animal out of is domain; they find a way back. Even people do the same things with their hands out because they feel they lived there a long time, have an interest and should or want a “Part of the Pie.” If not, they just keep coming and find a way to drive your well-to-do out! That’s about all you can do. There is no other way because it is to many of them to try and stop all of them. They are everywhere!

By DecaturDog

April 24, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this

hrw: I don’t think this is a case of Haves and havenots. Wealthy folks are not trying to drive them out. Workers, intown residents and visitors to our city have to deal with this aggressive behavior. I think I understand what you wanted to say, but it is not about people with money. Many areas of New York, Chicago, etc have huge areas of folks living there who are not wealthy and they don’t face this challenge to simply live their lives unharrassed by the less fortunate.

By FLY

April 24, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this

I just don’t know what to say on this other than what would Jesus do?

FLY