Will Work For Food 2.05.2007 | 0 Comment(s)

Panhandling was a hot topic on the Southampton neighborhood Yahoo! group last week. Apparently the number of people asking for money at the Walgreens, located at Hampton & Chippewa, and inside the heart of the neighborhood has been growing.

One woman tells the story of a man entering the Southampton Presbyterian Church at Nottingham and Macklind. The man, who they think came from a nearby bus stop, told the woman a story and then began asking each member of the all female group for money. The women felt threatened, they didn't know what he had in his pockets, so each member of the group gave the guy the money he requested. The woman goes on to say that cell phones were available, but not one of them called the police. I would've been dialing 911 as soon as I felt uncomfortable, but that's just me.

That kind of aggressive panhandling is very unsettling, especially in your own neighborhood. You expect to see the downtrodden standing with a sign near exit ramps or downtown, but not in a residential neighborhood.

I've never been very good with people who approach me for money. I'm really bad at telling people no, and I always end up engaged in some sort of conversation with the panhandler. I'm not rude, and I am honest when I tell them "I don't have any cash." With the invention of the debit card, I rarely carry money. I treat these guys & gals the way I'd want to be treated. That said, I'm always surprised by the panhandlers who are outright rude to me when I tell them that I can't help them.

A few years ago, a guy approached me downtown while I was walking to my car. I told him I had no cash, and he offered to take me to the nearest ATM. I declined his offer and I was then assaulted with a barrage of racial insults. He followed me for a block, hurling insults the whole time, but once I entered the parking garage he thankfully did not follow.

Life in the city.