Coos Bay Panhandlers make more than Wal-Mart Employees

[gshowell]

I'm posting this in Morning Breakfast because it's more of an oddity than a news story. It's an interesting anomaly.

The panhandlers and Wal-mart employees do have something in common. At the end of the day, they both end up with the same health insurance coverage.

Police: Coos Bay panhandlers raking in the green
2/3/2008, 1:20 p.m. PST
The Associated Press

http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/...local#continue

COOS BAY, Ore. (AP) — A police survey says pandhandlers outside a Wal-Mart here can make $300 a day. Inside, it takes a clerk a week to make that much.

Police say people who have a problem with that needn't look to the law--asking for money is considered protected free speech.

"We are not going to target panhandlers," said Coos Bay Police Capt. Rodger Craddock, who spoke a recent gathering of business owners about panhandling. "We can't do that. But if they aren't getting money from us, they aren't going to stand on that corner."

He said most panhandlers are not criminals. "They are nearly as likely to be victims of illegal acts as they are of committing them," he said.

He recalled a panhandler who was hit over the head with a flower pot and had his wallet stolen. The money in it was from welfare.

"Most (panhandlers) have lived here a long time and actually have homes," he said. "This is just their chosen profession."

He said most are docile, and that people should report those who are not.

"They are there for the money and the money is there to feed their addictions," said Bob More, director of housing and emergency services at South Coast Community Action.

He suggested a voucher system involving tickets people could give that are good for a meal or bed in a shelter.

More said some panhandlers have mental illnesses and won't seek help if they are being given money. "These are broken people who will never be able to hold a job," he said. "They need disability payments."

Craddock was asked if telling people to ignore panhandlers hobbled the panhandlers' free speech. He and most of the business owners said they did not.

"We are trying to educate the community that they have a choice," More said. "That's not suppressing their freedom of speech."

Bookstore owner Kate Fox suggested putting placards in store windows discouraging giving money to panhandlers.

"This is about behavior modification," she said.

Mayor Jeff McKeown said at the meeting that it is a balancing act. "We have a responsibility to you business owners, but we also need to be empathetic to people in our community with these problems," he said.

___

Information from: The World, http://www.theworldlink.com

© 2008 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

[Riven37]

I'm posting this in Morning Breakfast because it's more of an oddity than a news story. It's an interesting anomaly.

The panhandlers and Wal-mart employees do have something in common. At the end of the day, they both end up with the same health insurance coverage.

Police: Coos Bay panhandlers raking in the green
2/3/2008, 1:20 p.m. PST
The Associated Press

http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/...local#continue

COOS BAY, Ore. (AP) — A police survey says pandhandlers outside a Wal-Mart here can make $300 a day. Inside, it takes a clerk a week to make that much.

Police say people who have a problem with that needn't look to the law--asking for money is considered protected free speech.

"We are not going to target panhandlers," said Coos Bay Police Capt. Rodger Craddock, who spoke a recent gathering of business owners about panhandling. "We can't do that. But if they aren't getting money from us, they aren't going to stand on that corner."

He said most panhandlers are not criminals. "They are nearly as likely to be victims of illegal acts as they are of committing them," he said.

He recalled a panhandler who was hit over the head with a flower pot and had his wallet stolen. The money in it was from welfare.

"Most (panhandlers) have lived here a long time and actually have homes," he said. "This is just their chosen profession."

He said most are docile, and that people should report those who are not.

"They are there for the money and the money is there to feed their addictions," said Bob More, director of housing and emergency services at South Coast Community Action.

He suggested a voucher system involving tickets people could give that are good for a meal or bed in a shelter.

More said some panhandlers have mental illnesses and won't seek help if they are being given money. "These are broken people who will never be able to hold a job," he said. "They need disability payments."

Craddock was asked if telling people to ignore panhandlers hobbled the panhandlers' free speech. He and most of the business owners said they did not.

"We are trying to educate the community that they have a choice," More said. "That's not suppressing their freedom of speech."

Bookstore owner Kate Fox suggested putting placards in store windows discouraging giving money to panhandlers.

"This is about behavior modification," she said.

Mayor Jeff McKeown said at the meeting that it is a balancing act. "We have a responsibility to you business owners, but we also need to be empathetic to people in our community with these problems," he said.

___

Information from: The World, http://www.theworldlink.com

© 2008 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

That's it ! I'm going back selling pencils on the street Conner's lol

[Concerned in Buffalo]

gshowell!

gsip