Sunday, October 10, 2010

Competition for Spare Change: Homeless Meters

Orlando Sentinel -- "Panhandlers in downtown Orlando may soon have some mechanical competition for spare change. City Hall is set to roll out a plan to install "homeless meters" near spots where panhandling is grudgingly allowed.

People could deposit their coins in the repurposed parking meters — painted a different color and set back from the street — instead of giving spare change to panhandlers. The city would collect the money and give it to a nonprofit group to help the homeless."

HT: Buddy Pacifico

9 Comments:

At 10/10/2010 4:18 PM, Blogger juandos said...

Hmmm, this doesn't sound like a really good idea to me...

Belligerent beggars won't want to deal with some third party I'm guessing...

The tourists will need something to protect themselves from angry hobos...

 
At 10/10/2010 6:28 PM, Blogger Jason said...

How about a meter to help fund shipping the beggars to San Franciso where they can get a super-cool monthly payment to be a beggar?

 
At 10/10/2010 7:42 PM, Blogger PeakTrader said...

"The city would collect the money and give it to a nonprofit group to help the homeless."

The city may have to hire another $50,000 worker with full benefits.

Is the nonprofit group going to provide alcohol and drugs to the panhandlers? If not, won't the panhandlers have to work harder?

 
At 10/11/2010 3:19 AM, Blogger Richard said...

April fools day comes early this year

 
At 10/11/2010 3:42 AM, Blogger Ron H. said...

A Department of Homeland Panhandling?

A Begging Czar?

Is there any possible activity that government shouldn't be involved with?

I can see a need for taxpayer subsidies to cover the additional costs to the city.

 
At 10/11/2010 6:33 AM, Blogger juandos said...

Wasn't anyone else bothered by this particular statement: "It is a very easy way to donate to the cause of eradicating homelessness. They can give to a good cause, and they don't feel threatened."?!?!

"eradicating homelessness"?!?!

What planet does this vacuous, slack jawed, parasitic bureaucrat (and his equally useless minions) come from?

 
At 10/11/2010 7:59 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why would the city assume all panhandlers are homeless? Maybe some energetic panhandlers are trying not to be homeless and should be rewarded for that effort, too.

 
At 10/11/2010 8:32 AM, Blogger juandos said...

"Maybe some energetic panhandlers are trying not to be homeless and should be rewarded for that effort, too"...

Do you mean like a job with a 'living wage' Walt G?

Orlando is burning up tax dollars by contracting jobs with a living wage too...

 
At 10/11/2010 10:24 AM, Blogger Hydra said...

I was once a panhandler.

Made pretty good maney at it, and never spent it on booze or alcohol.

Never got closer than forty feet to my "customers" and they all spent their money of their own free will.

 

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