Poll: Should panhandling be outlawed in downtown Lawrence? / LJWorld.com

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Response		Percent	Votes
Yes		76%	1018
No		18%	253
Not sure		4%	65
Total	1336

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Ricky_Vaughn (anonymous) says…

Well that's 4-1 by my count...what's the hold up?
October 28, 2009 at 8:32 a.m.
JasonM (anonymous) says…

Why would ANYONE vote "Yes"? You may "feel bad" for some people, but they could find more productive ways to make money than sitting on their keisters. The aluminium can collecters are taking an active role in their own survival.
October 28, 2009 at 8:42 a.m.
cait48 (anonymous) says…

I would except the buskers. They are actually providing some degree of entertainment and they don't beg, as such, just leave a container of some sort out for tips.
October 28, 2009 at 9:16 a.m.
Marshalus (Michael Stanclift) says…

Jason, don't you mean "Why would anyone vote No?"
October 28, 2009 at 10:35 a.m.
spiff (anonymous) says…

When panhandling is outlawed, only outlaws can handle pans.
October 28, 2009 at 10:37 a.m.
honeychild (Mel Briscoe) says…

^^ very profound, spiff.
October 28, 2009 at 10:49 a.m.
ralphralph (anonymous) says…

Don't shut down street performers.
October 28, 2009 at 12:09 p.m.
CLARKKENT (anonymous) says…

the panhandlers should be outlawed also.
October 28, 2009 at 1:19 p.m.
jrlii (anonymous) says…

I voted yes 'cause I don't approve of beggars.

Now, I think of busking as something entirely different: Performing for donations, as opposed to accosting people for money.

Now, If you want to toot your flute or whatever with a hat out for donations, I don't mind a bit, and will occasionally drop something in the hat., and become more likely to go to that place.

But If you accost me on the street asking for money, not only is the answer is no, but I become less likely to go to that place.
October 28, 2009 at 1:23 p.m.
GmaD321 (anonymous) says…

Nothing irritates me more than to have someone who looks every bit as able-bodied as me asking for handouts.
I had a guy at a gas station once who drove a car up to the pump, ask for money for gas. WTF! Had a car with a tag, you would assume a drivers license and insurance too. I told him to get a job that he looked quite capable.
If I'm going to give anyone $ for nothing it will be my kids or grandkids. Forget these bums who think a hard day's work is pestering people for handouts.
October 28, 2009 at 1:33 p.m.
merrill (anonymous) says…

Developers are very expensive white collar panhandlers. Now we have tons of new development aka expanding the tax bills which is not paying back the community = no economic growth = tax increases.

Something went wrong. Leave it to white collar panhandlers.
October 28, 2009 at 2:28 p.m.
Pywacket (anonymous) says…

Musbhiorlo~ that gives me an idea. Teach the habitual, able-bodied beggars to knit potholders. They can sell them to make money. Everyone else can buy them to handle the pans and not get burned. It's a win-win situation.
October 28, 2009 at 2:31 p.m.
diff_of_opinion (anonymous) says…

I voted yes because I am getting tired of them being in my face begging for change, making me feel uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe, while my family and I are trying to enjoy ourselves downtown! Coming from a city who's downtown is almost non-existant I loved the downtown feel Lawrence offered. Anymore it is not inviting, it has become a place to showcase that Lawrence is the melting pot for the homeless. If it's not the lady with the baby (which baffles me that she still has custody of that little girl), or some cracked out individuals by the bus stop trying to get on the bus, then you can expect to get approached when you take out your wallet to pay the meter (which I thought was going to result in a purse snatching). Something needs to be done about it and unfortunately it is at the expense of 'legit' panhandlers like musicians who are doing their business peacefully! Sorry, but I will give up live music anyday to regain a 'safer' feel to downtown Lawrence!
October 28, 2009 at 2:37 p.m.
consumer1 (anonymous) says…

I would love to seer some stats on how much the homeless population has increased since Loring Henderson has been in charge of the Shelter. Yes, all panhandling should be illegal down town. Except in downtown Topeka.
October 28, 2009 at 2:42 p.m.
consumer1 (anonymous) says…

Correction, stats not provided by Loring Henderson or his far left biased ilk of friends.
October 28, 2009 at 2:44 p.m.
honeychild (Mel Briscoe) says…

py, by gosh i think you've got something there! :D
October 28, 2009 at 2:46 p.m.
LarryNative (anonymous) says…

Bernardo,
I think the above poll validates my earlier remark that you are in the minority.
October 28, 2009 at 2:48 p.m.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…

Bring out your dead (horses), merrill!
October 28, 2009 at 3:09 p.m.
sandrat (anonymous) says…

No, if only because I'd rather the cops were doing something productive like looking for drunk drives and maybe stopping some REAL crime. Isn't there a bunch of unsolved rapes they could be investigating.

Of course, this will actually help the panhandlers. When it gets cold, they can get arrested for a misdemeanor and get a good night sleep in a warm bed and a nice meal.

So, instead of funding a voluntary soup kitchen in town, we're going to be funding a mandatory soup kitchen and armed chauffeurs. Brilliant.
October 28, 2009 at 4:28 p.m.
merrill (anonymous) says…

Hey I would not want any type of aggressive person(s) hanging around in front of my business aggressively bothering potential customers. There have been rowdy small groups downtown, not panhandling, that could also fall into this category as a menace.

Seems to me there are plenty of ordinances on the books that could be applied and enforced. Don't narrow the focus to panhandlers. Disturbing the peace could be applied to many rowdy behavior situations that do take place downtown.

Long term enforcement will be the issue. LPD cannot be everywhere 24/7.

All homeless people simply are not necessarily problems.

For those who are quiet or street musicians leave them alone.

There is some awesome music on street corners from time to time. Let's be careful about this.
October 28, 2009 at 5:04 p.m.
JackRipper (anonymous) says…

Absolutely ban them. I'm tired of the panhandling developers hanging around city hall and asking for handouts. Difference between them and the ones on the street is they get it without asking us.
October 28, 2009 at 6:49 p.m.
JackRipper (anonymous) says…

What the panhandlers on the street need to figure out is how to get some of their members on the city commission. After that then they'll be riding the gravy train.
October 28, 2009 at 6:50 p.m.
death_by_ferret (anonymous) says…

Leave it to some idiot to badmouth the police in a poll about panhandling. Bravo! Good thing you mentioned something about the unsolved crime in the city. I'm sure all the investigators had no idea and were just waiting for your keen insight before beginning anything.
October 28, 2009 at 7:10 p.m.
was_freashpowder2 (Alexander Neighbors) says…

If politions can do it then everyone should be allowed to
October 28, 2009 at 7:31 p.m.
fallingwhilereading (anonymous) says…

Pilgram
If you went to the shelter, and offer pay for work around your house you would have plenty of takers.
So that is a great idea. It is your idea, and I will know if you did go, and made an offer for work.
If you do not I will call you out every time I see you post on this crap.
Lets find out if your a man of his word. In my experience most people from around here are not. Are you Pilgrim?
October 28, 2009 at 10:17 p.m.
NickB (anonymous) says…

I don't think it's a question of whether or not we like panhandlers or how annoying they are.

They are people who are on public property, and by current laws aren't allowed to touch you or invade your personal space. It is their constitutional right to be down there. 1st amendment protects free speech, and that speech includes asking for money.

It's a slippery slope once you start taking 1st amendment rights away. That's why we tolerate Fred Phelps and it's why we should tolerate panhandlers.
October 28, 2009 at 10:31 p.m.
Stain (anonymous) says…

Surely there are bigger problems the city commission could be working on.

They should drop this issue. It is not a big enough problem to start taking people's rights away and changing laws.
October 28, 2009 at 10:37 p.m.
kclee (anonymous) says…

there's a difference between "spare some change?"

and "spare some change so you children don't have to ask my children for condoms"

yeah, a bum and his buddy said that to me and my friend as we were walking down Mass. The fact that I was carrying my 2 month son with me too made it even more creepier.

there has also been an incident when a bum complained about not giving her enough money!

should it be outlawed? why not! the people who play music for money and perform on the street can blame the crackheads for taking away their freedom.
October 28, 2009 at 10:38 p.m.
fallingwhilereading (anonymous) says…

kclee
If you don't enjoy the freedoms granted to you by the constitution then leave. Others may not be so quick to give up rights afforded to them by the constitution.
I hear Mexico is nice this time of year.
October 28, 2009 at 11:19 p.m.
hitme (anonymous) says…

This isn't true! There is no way we have homeless people with Obama in office. This is all just propoganda.
October 28, 2009 at 11:19 p.m.
jimjones (anonymous) says…

Quit picking on them...offer them some of my tasty Kool-Aid
October 28, 2009 at 11:56 p.m.
hujiko (anonymous) says…

how about everywhere?
October 29, 2009 at 12:46 a.m.
TopJayhawk (anonymous) says…

readingwhilefalling,
Grow up and open your eyes honey.
October 29, 2009 at 5:27 a.m.