This Week in the Mercury
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
News Panhandling is Free Speech
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Tue, Mar 31, 2009 at 4:03 PM
An interesting debate played out in Southern Oregon this week, where a couple cities have banned panhandling for several years. The Oregon ACLU filed suit against Medford for its ban and won the case last week— the judge ruled that asking for money is free speech under the Oregon Constitution.
There's been lots of debate about how Oregon's strip clubs are considered free speech but for some reason Medford city councilors were hoping the laws were different for homeless people. An editorial in the Southern Oregon Mail Tribune explains the thinking behind the ban: to stop public panhandling.
"In fact, there may be only one way to keep panhandlers away from those locations, but it's not likely to happen. Panhandlers stand in those spots for one reason: because it works. Enough people give them money to make it worth their time. If the donations stopped, so would they."
This thinking really rubs me the wrong way because it's in line with the whole Portland Sit-Lie Ordinance mentality:
1. Homelessness is a serious problem.
2. We want homeless people to go away.
3. Ban them!
I totally understand not wanting homeless people roosting in public places, but we've got to recognize that panhandling is just a symptom of deep-rooted problems that "one way" thinking isn't going to help.
And now, a portrait of my favorite panhandler of all time, who may or may not actually accept money but is definitely a free speech freedom fighter.
1
They couldn't. Guy was running all over trying to pick up the quarters that missed him.
2
Next up, doing business without a permit.
3
However, I don't give to panhandlers. Most panhandlers aren't your typical homeless in Portland. Many of them are organized and plan their panhandling. You'll see a woman at the exit off 405 at Everett on the same day you see a guy at the Hollywood exit off 84. The next day they will be reversed. You'll see them do a "loop" of high profile spots with the same group day after day after day. It's panhandling as a business. I've talked with people who work with the homeless and they discourage it. I've talked to cashiers at banks who have seen their deposits. When I was in college, I saw the same people in class with me who would be downtown asking for money for gas the next day. I see the same people every day here downtown.
I think before you judge those people who aren't quick to give out their money to panhandlers, you should investigate it. Talk with people in social services. Discover who the majority of these panhandlers are and whether there is a more sure place to put your money if you truly care about the homeless and the destitute and the hungry. Because every dollar you give to someone just trying to get money for drugs or liquor or to avoid having a real job is a dollar not going to someone who really needs it and really does want something better for themselves and their family or who has problems that make it hard for them to support themselves, such as the many mentally ill on the streets.
4
I have a hard time giving money to a kid in his twenties with full sleeves of tattoos who tells me he is not a "bum" he's a "traveler" like that is some noble effort. When you decide you don't like society and refuse to live by it's rules then that society doesn't have to give you it's spare change. There are so many people with clearly observable mental problems on the streets that need REAL help.
5
But there are also many young people out there who simply lack shame. When I was in my early twenties I also knew students, and "travelers", and others who would go ask people for money without really needing to. It's pathetic. There are few types of people I have less respect for.
I hope when they get older they reflect on what shitbags they were. I hope they think that every dime their lazy ass got could have gone to a needy person with a mental or physical disability.
Panhandling is obviously free speech, so not much we can do. But I don't think we have to pretend that all these people are saints, and having them block sidewalks and harass us on a daily basis isn't a pain in the ass. And take that poor starving cat off that leash and take it to the Humane Society, you digenerate.
I just give to the shelters and food bank and do what I can that way.
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