Worcester gets heavy on panhandling
So Worcester has realized that panhandlers don’t add so much to the cityscape. Over the last five years we’ve been inundated with folks who have essentially made a full time job out of panhandling at intersections and highway off ramps. We’re not talking about your Key West style trustifarian pan handlers here. Nope, these are the real deal, a few biscuits short of tea with the Queen, big city panhandlers. Personally, I think it’s a good sign, hey if the down and out are taking Worcester seriously; major corporate interests can’t be that far behind, right?
So the city, in a most tactful attempt to just make the problem disappear, is circulating these flyers to residents, to inform them of the disservice they are doing to the community and the panhandlers themselves, by giving them money. A sociological “don’t feed the bears” if you will. That’s a nice enough approach, but it stinks of the same old lack of creativity that Worcester has been drowning in for… well ever.
My solution?
Hire them.
Look, we have a percentage of the population who by choice are hanging out in the most highly trafficked parts of the city. One could easily argue that on any given day more eyes see one or more of our panhandlers and their clever little cardboard signs than any one of our local Clear Channel billboards, newsprint ads or local radio spots; see where I’m going here? If the city labeled the panhandlers as freelancers of sorts and turned them into advertising space we could let them stand around all day and get something useful in return. And I’m not just talking corporate advertising here. We could have them collecting donations for Little Leagues in town, The Jimmy Fund, bands and local event promoters could give them their own signs to hold. The lowest common denominator could be turned, virtually overnight, into the single largest fundraising/promotions outfit in the cities history. All that would be needed is a little protection from liability; we can’t have Jerry Lewis getting sued because one of his collectors got hit by a semi on Park Ave. But if we figure the panhandlers in for a percentage of their day’s collection we can improve their standard of living without affecting their chosen (?) style of living.
But more importantly, we won’t look like a bunch of bullies running anyone on hard times out of town.
Comments
7 Responses to “Worcester gets heavy on panhandling”
Leave a Reply
SponsorABum.org Part II
Buck Paxton has seemingly-independently proposed a SponsorABum.org-like scheme for helping the downtrodden: If the city labeled the panhandlers as freelancers of sorts and turned them into advertising space we could let them stand around all day and ge…
Seriously though… an interesting story. I usually give these guys a buck or two. I figure I can spare it. I was with a guy the other day that could spare it and instead of giving him money, he told him to come into a restaurant with him and he’ll buy him lunch. We were standing outside talking for awhile longer and the beggar walked down towards the door of the restaurant in the meanwhile. When we were walking in - the guy I was with - told him to come in and order what he wanted. The beggar said no-thanks. So, I “assumed” that the guy just wanted money for booze or something else. Which is fine. He can do what he wants with the money he collects. I buy booze too. But, it was just interesting that the guy turned down a free meal.
Hey Pax,
My man was joking me about getting the homeless to promote my CD all last year. Actually could work. Myself I find that the best repellant is free food , or a job aplication. Now, what do we do with the guys with that “my car is brokedown, and I just need a few dollars for gas” scam? Maybe they can actually find investors for us?
Peace
God! I just fell for that one the other day. It was a couple. They were convincing. I think I gave them $5. Bastards! I am such a sucker. I should have had them wave down the cab and then paid the cabby directly.
Kaz… Totally of Subject. But, I’ve been listening to your album in the car for a month now. Lovin it. How’s the process of putting a band together coming?
Wow, thanks Pete. Really glad you are enjoying it.As for the band…kinda slowly, still working at it.Possibly heading to NYC to hook up with some friends that have something started out there.Either way I’m gonna begin recording new stuff soon. If you have any leads let me know. You can email @ info@supernovasoundlab.com
P.S. I’ve got some suggestions for the Net Mix that I’d like to share with you sometime.
Kaz
get a room guys.