@BlogKCThe proposal to dramatically tighten panhandling regulations has been altered significantly. The language of the ordinance now differentiates between panhandling and street perforning. The revisions are not yet available to the public, but it all goes to the full City Council today for approval.
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I have no problem with street performers, but I’d love to see panhandling outlawed.
Regardless of people’s feelings towards panhandlers and street performers there is a bigger issue here. The revisions to the ordinance were major (and many of them were good) and given those changes the new ordinance should have been made publicly available for at least a week. They finished the actual changes this morning and it is now available online, mere hours before they vote on it. This is NOT serving the public good, this is ramming a project through before the new council can take office.
Hear Hear Stacey. This, overall, sends out the impression that I’ve always gotten from the majority of this council in that public opinion and input is really not welcome on the 29th Floor of City Hall. We minions are just a mere annoyance to their law-making process.
If any one of the powers that be is wondering how a guy like Funkhouser can win over a more established guy like Al Brooks, it’s because of crap like this. At least Funkhouser gave me a sense, or a hope, that the input of the citizens was welcome.
No one there now seems to care.
Normally I would agree with everything both of you say. This really only affects the panhandlers though; they don’t pay taxes or contribute in any positive way, so would their input be of any use?
It doesn’t only affect the panhandlers, it directly affects me as a street performer. I DO pay taxes on my income, tip or otherwise. Why is my input of no value?
I think your input is valuable, and it is unfortunate it was handled this way, but you know how things like this go; even when they have public forums, it’s just a “feel good” excercise, since they already have their minds made up. I think you should be angry at the panhandlers too, though. They’re the reason this is happening. People like Jerry “downpayment on a cheeseburger” Mazer, who will call you every name in the book if you don’t give in.
Oh, I’ve not let Jerry off the hook, nor that annoying cup shaking guy. But not all of the panhandlers are awful and I hate that those bad apples have hurt everyone. One panhandler I know only does it in the winter when he has a hard time finding work. He’s nearly 80 and his fixed income doesn’t cover both food and medicine. He buys his medicine and pays his rent with his social security then he panhandles to buy food every week. Of course this guy will get the short end of the stick and Jerry gets the publicity and has already retained an attorney.
Stacey-
Every panhandler has a sob story if they’re given the chance to tell it. Social Security is designed to be a cushion against poverty, not a flat-out retirement plan, so not having made provisions for surviving at the age of 80 is no excuse for someone to harrass shoppers, diners and visitors. Again, I have no problem with street performers (talent, work and entertainment deserve to be compensated). But people who decline to work, or who expect others to subsidize their refusal to take personal responsibility for their life can go to hell.
Shorter Tim: “It’s his fault for not dying before his money ran out.”
Nice attitude, Tim. I hope you’ll never have to rely on the charity and kindness of others.
Patrick-
I am not against charity, but there’s a difference between charity and being an enabler. People who make a lifestyle out of pandering for money drain resources for the truly needy; true charity is for people battling disabling disease, emergencies such as flood or fire, etc. Big difference, my friend. I do a lot of walking around midtown, Westport, and the Plaza areas and usually the panhandlers are nearer to a liquor store than a grocery store. Why should a fatass beggar like Jerry “downpayment on a cheeseburger” Mazer, and those of his ilk, get away with taking food from the mouths of the truly needy (i.e., someone genuinely in a time of crisis)?
Tim –
Many people in my family were not fortunate enough to go to college. I have a cousin who died recently because although she worked two jobs she could not afford health insurance for her family and earned too much to get it from the state. By the time she found out she had cancer it was too late. And she couldn’t have afforded the treatment anyway. Because she worked minimum wage jobs there was no retirement plan through work and it took every penny she had to feed her kids, pay the rent and electric bill and put gas in the car so that she could go back to work again.
People who are in low income positions CAN’T plan for the future. Even some people who did go to college have a hard time saving. My husband gave up being a full time entertainer where we made a good living to become a teacher in the KCMO district. The pay cut he took was significant and the benefits are pretty much nil. (over 30% of his gross pay for health insurance) If we relied on his income alone or if I worked at Wal-Mart we would not be able to save money for retirement. For someone with little education to reach 80 and have nothing is not always through their own mis planning.
Oh, and as for Jerry. Do what I do, say NO. Tell him to get a job. If enough people say NO he will have no choice but to do something different. Panhandling is kinda self regulating in that respect. No money to be made = no panhandlers.
Tim,
Maybe you ought to look into the causes of homelessness a little bit more. Not every single homeless person is a drunken bum too lazy to get a job. Many, if not most, of these people are not on the streets by choice.
I live in Midtown and occassionaly visit the Plaza and Westport so I’m well aware of how bad panhandling is. A simple, polite “no” or “sorry” before moving on has always done the trick. There’s no ill will generated by being polite and firm. Besides, why let panhandlers ruin your day?
It’s the same ones over and over again, usually close to a liquor store or bar. Labor Ready will hire anyone, take you to the work site, and you get paid that day. Sheesh, these people really need to do something with their lives. A friend of mine is teaching in a very poor part of Asia right now. There is no homelessness but also no laziness. For people with genuine need, churches and organizations can and do help out. If panhandlers approach me, I tell them no, and make them aware that I believe people should have jobs and contribute to society. Some of them have been bothering people and mooching their entire adult lives, and most of them look able-bodied to me.
I understand that lots of things play into this debate. I live on the plaza and I know that something needs to be done about the panhandlers. I walk by the same people many times each day and they are relentless, worthless, and a drain on society. Yes life is hard, rough, and you can’t control everything about your finances. That said, you can control these degenerates. Do not give them money. Do not enable them. Say no every time they ask. Don’t make eye contact. Don’t let your friends give them money. We are the piece that is going to send them back under the bridge. Or maybe some of them will actually look for a real solution to their sad, sad, life.
i think there shoul be no panhandling because