wizehop
Chasing the Darkness
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/15157611.html?p=1
Police: Oregon panhandlers raking in the green
COOS BAY, Ore. - A police survey says panhandlers outside Wal-Mart in Coos Bay 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.
Coos Bay authorities say most panhandlers are not criminals.
Coos Bay Police Captain Rodger Craddock says most have lived in the city a long time and they actually have homes. Craddock says, "This is just their chosen profession."
He says most are docile, and that people should report those who are not.
Bob More, director of housing and emergency services at South Coast Community Action, says many panhandlers are there for the money - to feed their addictions.
He suggested a voucher system involving tickets people could give that are good for a meal or bed in a shelter.
The comments where interesting and worth a read as well:
wub
so lessee...poor people 'raking in the green' is big news, but obscene profit, slave wages, prison labor, and class warfare...none of that is news? This article is from 2008. Why is it a fresh story now? Why is corporate welfare not the real news?
roguecity
I wonder how a "police survey" works. Personally I wouldn't take anyone's word on this. I suppose someone could actually try it and see. Spend a day and beg, sounds like easy money lolsigh...
I guess the real story is it takes a WEEK for a Walmart employee to earn $300?!? Didn't we just read how Walmart clear over $700 BILLION last quarter, a 5.7 percent increase in profits? While their employees must take welfare and food stamps to survive?!? The REAL CRIME is how we subsidize these obscene corporate profits.
Wayne Finley
Some BUMS have zero respectt
Scrappy
I bust my sorry butt to only have everybody favorite uncle take it away and this guy gets to sit on his butt and dosen't have to give anything to the goverment at all how is this fair
extra
@ScrappyThen why don't you panhandle then? Problem solved.
LikeReply
SSam
@Scrappy You are looking at the wrong end of the economic spectrum if you are concerned about things being unfair.
John Kiefer
The best scam ever is an early 20's guy or girl, have a sign showing how they need "bus money" to get home. Start the sign off with like $100, put an x through it, work down to about $40.
Most EVERYONE will stop and not only give you money, they usually give $5 to $10 and several will give you the "final" $40 you need to "get home".
I've heard of "students" making over $500 a day doing this.
Really only works if you are young, cute, and can pull off the "I just want to see my sick mother" routine. Or, do it around the holidays.
roguecity
@John Kiefer It is not much of a scam as we are all in on it.
DT
Seriously people. STOP giving money to panhandlers. PERIOD. They are scam artists. Most people cluelessly believe that these folks are "homeless." Usually they are nothing of the sort. It's a business, run by bosses who get a cut. I've seen a man in a newer cadillac, sitting in his car in a parking lot writing out cardboard signs to hand out to the beggars. They actually have shifts, and one guy walks away and hands the sign to the other one. I've even seen a changing of the guard, where one guy walks up and takes a seat in a wheelchair, and the other guy walks away.
My favorite is the women... notice how their hair is ALWAYS touched up? No roots showing at all. They also have new shoes, nice coats, etc. Never. EVER. EVER. give money to anyone on the street. EVER. Seriously. Give it to a program that actually helps people. These people are making money tax-free.
LikeReply
SSam
@DT If you care about people who scam then you are looking at the wrong people. There is nothing wrong with helping pan handlers. The idea that they are just scamming you is sad.
It is the other end of the economic spectrum that is scamming the system and not paying their fair share of taxes.
LikeReply
roguecity
@DT There are people asking for money all day long. Don't condemn just because they don't wear a suit. Folks give because they want to give. There is no law (except God's law) that says you must be generous. Just be grateful there are a so many opportunities to test your faith and values.
LikeReply
This comment has been deleted
Foony
@Michelle Ford Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce to you the American school system.
Police: Oregon panhandlers raking in the green
COOS BAY, Ore. - A police survey says panhandlers outside Wal-Mart in Coos Bay 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.
Coos Bay authorities say most panhandlers are not criminals.
Coos Bay Police Captain Rodger Craddock says most have lived in the city a long time and they actually have homes. Craddock says, "This is just their chosen profession."
He says most are docile, and that people should report those who are not.
Bob More, director of housing and emergency services at South Coast Community Action, says many panhandlers are there for the money - to feed their addictions.
He suggested a voucher system involving tickets people could give that are good for a meal or bed in a shelter.
The comments where interesting and worth a read as well:
wub
27 minutes agoso lessee...poor people 'raking in the green' is big news, but obscene profit, slave wages, prison labor, and class warfare...none of that is news? This article is from 2008. Why is it a fresh story now? Why is corporate welfare not the real news?
ShareFlag
LikeReply
roguecity
8 hours agoI wonder how a "police survey" works. Personally I wouldn't take anyone's word on this. I suppose someone could actually try it and see. Spend a day and beg, sounds like easy money lolsigh...
I guess the real story is it takes a WEEK for a Walmart employee to earn $300?!? Didn't we just read how Walmart clear over $700 BILLION last quarter, a 5.7 percent increase in profits? While their employees must take welfare and food stamps to survive?!? The REAL CRIME is how we subsidize these obscene corporate profits.
ShareFlag
LikeReply
Wayne Finley
11 hours agoSome BUMS have zero respectt
ShareFlag
LikeReply
Scrappy
11 hours agoI bust my sorry butt to only have everybody favorite uncle take it away and this guy gets to sit on his butt and dosen't have to give anything to the goverment at all how is this fair
ShareFlag
LikeReply
extra
11 hours ago@ScrappyThen why don't you panhandle then? Problem solved.
ShareFlag
1
LikeReply
SSam
11 hours ago@Scrappy You are looking at the wrong end of the economic spectrum if you are concerned about things being unfair.
ShareFlag
LikeReply
John Kiefer
12 hours agoThe best scam ever is an early 20's guy or girl, have a sign showing how they need "bus money" to get home. Start the sign off with like $100, put an x through it, work down to about $40.
Most EVERYONE will stop and not only give you money, they usually give $5 to $10 and several will give you the "final" $40 you need to "get home".
I've heard of "students" making over $500 a day doing this.
Really only works if you are young, cute, and can pull off the "I just want to see my sick mother" routine. Or, do it around the holidays.
ShareFlag
LikeReply
roguecity
8 hours ago@John Kiefer It is not much of a scam as we are all in on it.
ShareFlag
LikeReply
DT
13 hours agoSeriously people. STOP giving money to panhandlers. PERIOD. They are scam artists. Most people cluelessly believe that these folks are "homeless." Usually they are nothing of the sort. It's a business, run by bosses who get a cut. I've seen a man in a newer cadillac, sitting in his car in a parking lot writing out cardboard signs to hand out to the beggars. They actually have shifts, and one guy walks away and hands the sign to the other one. I've even seen a changing of the guard, where one guy walks up and takes a seat in a wheelchair, and the other guy walks away.
My favorite is the women... notice how their hair is ALWAYS touched up? No roots showing at all. They also have new shoes, nice coats, etc. Never. EVER. EVER. give money to anyone on the street. EVER. Seriously. Give it to a program that actually helps people. These people are making money tax-free.
ShareFlag
1
LikeReply
SSam
11 hours ago@DT If you care about people who scam then you are looking at the wrong people. There is nothing wrong with helping pan handlers. The idea that they are just scamming you is sad.
It is the other end of the economic spectrum that is scamming the system and not paying their fair share of taxes.
ShareFlag
1
LikeReply
roguecity
8 hours ago@DT There are people asking for money all day long. Don't condemn just because they don't wear a suit. Folks give because they want to give. There is no law (except God's law) that says you must be generous. Just be grateful there are a so many opportunities to test your faith and values.
ShareFlag
1
LikeReplyThis comment has been deleted
Foony
13 hours ago@Michelle Ford Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce to you the American school system.
