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Kevin Barbieux explains this so much better than I ever have:

Ok, so what’s the difference between a Panhandler and a Beggar? Well, to my mind there is a difference. The panhandler is stationary, his technique involves picking one place to sit or stand while waiting for you to pass by. The beggar is on the move, his technique involves finding one in the area most likely to buy his pitch. The panhandler works on the odds that a certain percentage of the entire population will walk by him, and throw something into his pan/hat/cup/palm. The beggar is more aggressive, and more cunning; he is the tiger on the prowl, looking for the weak and the young.

Read more on The Homeless Guy on the difference between panhandlers and beggars…

Good editorial in today’s News & Record: “Clearing out The Block”:

Greensboro police last week stepped up loitering enforcement and effectively cleared the place known as “The Block.” Just like that.

Read more on N&R Editorial: Clearing out The Block…

Did you read News & Record editorial page editor Allen Johnson’s Sunday, October 4, 2009 column? Read it online: My conflicted views about panhandlers.

Allen writes in response to the heavily restrictive changes to the city’s panhandling ordinance, which have made it illegal to panhandle almost everywhere downtown, and have limited panhandling throughout the city. Allen talks about why he has mixed feelings about panhandlers.

Read more on Allen Johnson: Conflicted about panhandlers…

From greensboropeerpressure”

“The people who rule what happens in Downtown Greensboro have removed the little greenway through the parking lot on South Elm and McGee streets downtown because they claim that nobody used it. People used to use it to eat bag lunches and watch passers-by and enjoy the breeze and the flowers. Neighbors often sat on the benches and had friendly conversations and/or heated discussions.

Read more on Good-bye to Panhandlers Park & harmless homeless?…

The Greensboro City Council has adopted changes in the City ordinance governing begging and panhandling. Sec. 20-69 will be amended as follows:

Sec. 20-69: Place
Any person who begs or solicits alms for his or her personal gain when the person is in any of the places listed below is guilty of a misdemeanor:
(1) At any bus or train stop;
(2) In any public transportation vehicle, facility, transit stop or taxi stand;
(3) In any vehicle on the street; or
(4) On private property, unless the person has written permission from the owner of the property to beg or solicit alms on the property; or
(5) On any school property during the student arrival times or during the student departure times.
(6) On any sidewalk adjacent to a motion picture theater, outdoor theater or palladium, any valid licensed vendor location, or where a line of patrons has formed.
(7) Within 20 feet of the entrance to any financial institution or automated teller machine, regardless of whether or not such automated teller machine is located at or near a financial institution. Financial institution as used in this section means any bank, trust company, savings and loan association, credit union, check-cashing business, any other entity principally engaged in the business of lending or receiving or soliciting money on deposit; or
(8) Within 20 feet of the entrance to any commercial establishment or private residence, or
(9) In any parking, deck, garage or surface parking lot and not within 20 feet of the entrance and exits of these areas and not within 20 feet of any parking meter or parking kiosk, or
(10) While under the influence of alcohol or other non-prescribed drugs or illegal substance, or
(11) Within 20 feet of the visible barricade of any outdoor café whether such café is on the public sidewalk or on private property.

The amended ordinance became effective upon adoption.

Read more on What the amendment to the panhandling ordinance says…

Image credit: Nelson Kepley, N&R

UPDATE:  The amendments to the panhandling ordinance passed unanimously.

Tonight, the Greensboro City Council considers significant revisions to the ordinance governing public soliciting, begging and panhandling.  The proposed changes would result in a de facto ban on panhandling in the downtown area, and would strictly limit panhandling throughout the rest of the city.

Read more on N&R: Proposal would just about ban panhandling…

“Taser the homeless.”

Word is spreading about that disturbing suggestion, which came from an unidentified woman who owns or works for a business on South Elm Street in downtown Greensboro.  She attended a problem-solving meeting on May 18th with District 3 Council rep Zack Matheny and City staff, to discuss parking-related issues in the 300 block of South Elm Street.

Read more on So you heard about the chick who wants to taser the homeless downtown?…

(l) What's missing? (r) Where are the benches?

This morning, Audrie and I left Green Bean and walked across the street to Panhandler’s Park to sit and plan what all we had to do today to get ready for NightWatch tonight. But when we walked up the sidewalk, I noticed right away that something was missing — all the benches were gone!  That little patch of green at Elm and McGee was nicknamed “Panhandler’s Park” for a reason.  Is the City practicing a little reverse hospitality?  I guess there’s more than one way to discourage panhandling.

Read more on What’s missing from Panhandler’s Park?…

On Tuesday, April 7th, the Greensboro City Council will consider a proposed change to the panhandling ordinance, limiting the hours to 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. The current ordinance doesn’t specify hours, it prohibits panhandling after sunset. If Council approves the change, panhandlers will lose some hours of begging time during the summer, but they will be allowed to panhandle after dark during part of the winter, when sunset comes before 6:00 p.m.

Read more on Proposed panhandling law changes; and where does that money go?…

Saw this sign-flying faux pas near downtown the other day:

Where not to stand when panhandling.

From “Panhandling 101, Greensboro Style:”

“You can’t step off the sidewalk and into the roadway while panhandling. (That means if someone in a car in a middle lane wants to give you money, you can’t go into traffic to get it. They would need to come to you.) “

I took this photo from a parking lot where I had stopped to look through the snacks, hygiene items and blankets I keep in my car to give to homeless people — planning to take something to him. But even with my car window rolled up, I could hear him loudly and creatively cursing the drivers of cars who passed by without stopping, and I noticed that he had two companions sitting in a corner of the parking lot cheering him on. From the looks of things, they may well have been under the influence of another form of cheer. So I decided to wait until another day, when I have some company along with me, to make this particular gentleman’s acquaintance.

Read more on How not to panhandle…

Today on my way home from church, I saw one of the many U.S. military veterans that I know who are or have been homeless in Greensboro. He was flying a sign at his usual corner. I stopped to say hello and asked if I could take a picture of his sign.

Read more on Panhandling to pay the rent…

This is my friend Terry. He’s been homeless in Greensboro for four years. He’s camped under bridges, in the woods, and in empty houses and buildings all over town. He feels safer outside than in the shelters. (A lot of homeless people feel this way.)

Read more on Terry: Flying signs, seeking work…