I
swear I had never heard about this before, don’t know if you have,
and so please take a few moments to check
out the article about a way some cities are
attempting to address panhandling.
And
now that you’ve returned… yeah… I agree with your reaction. Wow.
Apparently
several cities, such as New Haven, Connecticut, are attempting
to address the growing problems of panhandling by fundraising.
And yes, that is a simplistic explanation, but it’s honestly a
tricky conversation.
The
action is more specifically that as an alternative to a person
asking or begging for money… and even more specifically, in attempts
to push out those asking or begging… the governments are offering
a differetn option for you to pass monies along to charities and
organizations. You know, should you be so inclined as to donate.
I’m
honestly not sure if I know how to respond (because I actually
think I do… and it is founded in two thoughts)…
First
up… I don’t know that these automated charity boxes are going
to stop problems. I don’t see these meters keeping people away
from the stop lights near highway ramps, the intersections at
busy marketplaces, or any other place where the federal courts
are declaring panhandling as an expression of free speech.
(Go
ahead… look that free speech stuff up. Here – “Rhode Island courts
panhandling freedom of speech” works as one possible search string.
You can explore from there.)
Second…
Anyone seen anything guaranteeing where monies donated into the
city’s bins from such efforts are destined to go? Because I’ll
tell you right now groups and organizations and programs such
as education/schools could provide you with a fair amount of information
about how monies and budgets promised from various sources is
never reduced, never distributed elsewhere, and never in some
fashion viewed through creative accounting.
All
of which brings us to my response, which is basically questions…
Do
the meters prevent people from giving to panhandlers? Or, more
precisely, have any of these towns that felt the need to address
panhandling through meters able to show what might be considered
a positive change from it in the community?
While
I won’t examine the intentions here, I do wonder how the programs
decide where to direct the funds. How do they collect it, process
it, and distribute it?
Funny
enough… most of the research I did usually brought out information
saying that places couldn’t find any change in panhandling activity
that could be credited to the presence of the meters. (This, if
they mentioned the concept of what the results have been at all.)
Several
years ago I read an article where the writer noted seeing people
asking for money at a shopping mall. Holding a sign and everything.
And, as I remember it, over a couple of days, it was noted that
the sign was exactly the same but it wasn’t always the same person
holding it.
The
tricky conversation area comes from a simple place: no one wants
to be the one seen as politically incorrect, or in the case of
those seeking assistance, shown as being in opposition of someone
truly in need of help. And yet, there are plenty of examples of
people taking advantage of a system or situation and charity gone
wrong, which in turn should be investigated and criticized (and,
potentially, opposed).
It’s
a difficult tightrope to walk.
I
suppose I didn’t come here to arrive at an answer. Seeing meters
in squares or parks isn’t like strolling through a town or village
and seeing horses, crabs, cows, Mr. Potato Heads or other iconic
neighborhood mascots. It’s an issue, not a decoration.
One
thing is certain though, walking quickly without making eye contact
isn’t the only option.