To the editor:

Please, people of Lawrence, don’t let fear override compassion, at least not based upon misinformation. I do not believe that panhandling is a problem downtown.

I walk up and down Mass. Street nearly every day. I have never been a victim of aggressive panhandling. I have never witnessed aggressive panhandling. I have never seen panhandlers blocking the sidewalk. I have never seen panhandlers blocking store entrances. I have rarely seen more than one panhandler at a time in any one spot, and never in intimidating groups. I have never witnessed other than a very polite and short request for change, and never a repeated request when ignored or turned down.

There are many possible approaches to dealing with homeless issues in Lawrence, but the recent news reports about panhandling, and discussing the “panhandling problem” at City Commission meetings is a huge and narrow-minded waste of time.

Paul Veerkamp,

Lawrence