Columnist James Ingram
Beggars beware. That’s the message from Belleville Police Chief William Clay. If the chief has his way, Belleville will soon tighten restrictions on panhandling.
Right now, beggars must have written permission from Belleville’s mayor; but their chief and the national experts on homelessness caution that attempts to ban panhandling is not so easy to accomplish, with a number of ordinances routinely being thrown out of court as being unconstitutional.
The solution: restriction of certain aspects of begging versus banning panhandling altogether. For instance, Belleville recently passed an ordinance which limits panhandling to daylight hours; prohibits panhandling at public events and bans begging inside of businesses, at bus stops, near public transportation, from stopped or parked vehicles, on public streets or alleys, sidewalk cafes or within 20 feet of ATMs or banks.
Panhandlers in Belleville will also be banned from using profanity, touching those whom they solicit and blocking streets or sidewalks. In addition, following individuals after they walk away or panhandling in groups of two or more is also a no-no.
In East St. Louis, however, begging seems to have gone from being the exclusive domain of the homeless to a profession, with drunks, crack-heads and the lazy crowding out the truly destitute for their chance to beg for a little “spare change.”
Just go to the Walgreens at the corner of 25th and State Street, in ESL, where begging has become an art form. I can deal with the begging. It’s the lack of creative lying on the part of the beggars that irks me.
Most beggars ask for money for food. Yet, every time that I’ve offered to walk over to McDonald’s to buy a sandwich for the beggar, their story quickly changes to preferring the money over the food. Lies or scams?
And if I hear one more beggar tell me that their car broke down and they need money for gas, I swear that I will go postal! At least, if you’re not going to work, take the time to come up with a more creative lie.
But my favorite panhandler camps out in downtown East Boogie, right by the various bank ATM’s and drive-thru lines, with cup in hand. I guess if you’re going to be a professional beggar you might as well go right to the source!
Now, I’ve never knocked those who generously dig into their pockets or purses to subsidize panhandlers. Far be it from me to tell someone else what to do with their money. I just have a personal problem with someone who begs eight hours a day and who NEVER vacates their post long enough to look for a job.
I realize that the economy is bad, but many of these folks that I routinely encounter have been panhandling since Bill Clinton was president and the economy was on a roll.
Whatever happened to good old-fashioned “hustling” – and I mean legal hustling? My late grandparents often spoke of the “Great Depression” and how they hustled by doing odd jobs: sewing, washing clothes, ironing, doing household and auto repairs, cutting grass, shoveling snow, etc., in exchange for money.
Travel to New York City, Chicago or Boston and you will be overwhelmed, by guys with squeegees and Windex, who offer to clean your windshields (for money) at every stoplight. It’s annoying as hell, but at least they’re offering something in exchange for money. Go to Los Angeles and you’ll find people hustling fruit and burritos near highway off ramps and on street corners.
Ride the subway in most major cities and musicians and street performers dance, sing and play their instruments in exchange for money. There, at least you feel as if you’re being entertained in exchange for you’re hard earned dollars.
Able-bodied young men and women, with their hands out, turn me off; especially when you’ve seen beggars who are, at least, creative and resourceful.
I respect a hustle and I’m not insensitive or oblivious to abject poverty. However, I detest blatant laziness. Belleville has the right idea in placing restrictions on beggars so that their constitutional rights are protected, while my right NOT to be annoyed is respected too.
East Boogie is another story; but as long as the word “NO” remains a part of the English vocabulary, I’m good.
Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com.