Panhandling

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GoldenBear03
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4:36p, 9/6/23
Man, it has exploded in the last couple of years. We've always had it, but now every major corner in town, as well as some more minor ones, have three or four people begging at all times.

Obviously, I feel badly for whatever percentage is truly in need, but we also know that the reality is that some faction of panhandlers are there chiefly because they like the tax free quick money vs. true desperation. The bottom line is that it's a scourge on our city.

As I recall, we've never had a law, per se, against panhandling, but I believe there is a Waco ordinance against it. Did Waco just stop enforcing it?

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RightRevBear
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In reply to GoldenBear03 • 9:14p, 9/6/23
GoldenBear03 said:
Man, it has exploded in the last couple of years. We've always had it, but now every major corner in town, as well as some more minor ones, have three or four people begging at all times.

Obviously, I feel badly for whatever percentage is truly in need, but we also know that the reality is that some faction of panhandlers are there chiefly because they like the tax free quick money vs. true desperation. The bottom line is that it's a scourge on our city.

As I recall, we've never had a law, per se, against panhandling, but I believe there is a Waco ordinance against it. Did Waco just stop enforcing it?



It is unenforceable. Panhandling ordinances violate the first amendment.
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Harrison Bergeron
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12:33a, 9/7/23
#Bidenomics
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lrwells50
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5:34a, 9/7/23
If people would stop giving them money, the panhandling would stop.
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Eleven-League Grant
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10:23a, 9/7/23
At least those guys who were juggling the bowling pins provided a little entertainment value in exchange for a requested 'contribution.'

It seems most of those guys (able-bodied at that) can't even be bothered to pick up their own trash. My wife says I'm too cold-hearted and that most of them are probably mentally ill. I dunno.

Anybody remember the scammer who used to work the MLK exit off of I-35 North before McLane was built? He wore an army jacket, and sat in a wheel chair with his legs covered.

One day about 3:15 PM I was driving Orchard lane between East Loop 340 and MLK. I saw this man going to work. He was pushing his wheelchair while running to 'his' corner. I couldn't believe it.

Of course, that's anecdotal. I imagine some of those folks are desperate and destitute, it's just tough discerning who is who.
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BaylorHistory
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In reply to Eleven-League Grant • 10:57a, 9/7/23
Eleven-League Grant said:
At least those guys who were juggling the bowling pins provided a little entertainment value in exchange for a requested 'contribution.'
I know one of them and he travels the fair circuit in the fall and spring doing shows then does that on the side in the summer and when he doesn't have a gig. I'm actually alright with him as it brings some life to the streets and is interesting. Anyone else remember the dude who played saxophone outside Floyd Casey on gamedays? I liked that dude too.
Noooo evidence for that, babeeyyy, just maaade it up.
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STxBear81
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3:23p, 9/7/23
I like the ladies who want money and have a pillow under their shirt acting preggers. sign that says "Pregnant Cant work, Baby aboard"
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Moondoggie
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9:43p, 9/7/23
We have a pathetic but ripped muscularly 67 year old African American man who lives behind target. He dry shoves his head daily. I'm sure he will be out there in the 108 degree heat tomorrow. Anyone see him? He never panhandles but I still buy him food. Wish I could do more.
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Coyote Bear
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In reply to Moondoggie • 9:50p, 9/7/23
Moondoggie said:
We have a pathetic but ripped muscularly 67 year old African American man who lives behind target. He dry shoves his head daily. I'm sure he will be out there in the 108 degree heat tomorrow. Anyone see him? He never panhandles but I still buy him food. Wish I could do more.


I see him on Bosque all the time. Hard to miss with that physique.

The chick fil a panhandlers on Franklin are the worst. They make too much money to ever go elsewhere.
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T-REX
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In reply to Eleven-League Grant • 12:52a, 9/8/23
Eleven-League Grant said:
At least those guys who were juggling the bowling pins provided a little entertainment value in exchange for a requested 'contribution.'

It seems most of those guys (able-bodied at that) can't even be bothered to pick up their own trash. My wife says I'm too cold-hearted and that most of them are probably mentally ill. I dunno.

Anybody remember the scammer who used to work the MLK exit off of I-35 North before McLane was built? He wore an army jacket, and sat in a wheel chair with his legs covered.

One day about 3:15 PM I was driving Orchard lane between East Loop 340 and MLK. I saw this man going to work. He was pushing his wheelchair while running to 'his' corner. I couldn't believe it.

Of course, that's anecdotal. I imagine some of those folks are desperate and destitute, it's just tough discerning who is who.
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BaylorHistory
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In reply to Coyote Bear • 7:59a, 9/8/23
Coyote Bear said:
Moondoggie said:
We have a pathetic but ripped muscularly 67 year old African American man who lives behind target. He dry shoves his head daily. I'm sure he will be out there in the 108 degree heat tomorrow. Anyone see him? He never panhandles but I still buy him food. Wish I could do more.


I see him on Bosque all the time. Hard to miss with that physique.

The chick fil a panhandlers on Franklin are the worst. They make too much money to ever go elsewhere.


Their vehicle is parked right next to them at Longhorn Steakhouse all the time too.
Noooo evidence for that, babeeyyy, just maaade it up.
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GoldenBear03
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9:48a, 9/8/23
So, back to the original question: is there any way to get rid of it or, at least, make it too uncomfortable to continue? That may be hard, given that 108 degree temps don't seem to even deter them.
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trey3216
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In reply to GoldenBear03 • 10:11a, 9/8/23
GoldenBear03 said:
So, back to the original question: is there any way to get rid of it or, at least, make it too uncomfortable to continue? That may be hard, given that 108 degree temps don't seem to even deter them.
One of them tried to jump into my co-workers truck while he was stopped at the light at 84/6. Had he gotten the door open, there'd be 1 less panhandler.
Mr. Treehorn treats objects like women, man.
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whitetrash
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In reply to BaylorHistory • 10:23a, 9/8/23
BaylorHistory said:
Coyote Bear said:
Moondoggie said:
We have a pathetic but ripped muscularly 67 year old African American man who lives behind target. He dry shoves his head daily. I'm sure he will be out there in the 108 degree heat tomorrow. Anyone see him? He never panhandles but I still buy him food. Wish I could do more.


I see him on Bosque all the time. Hard to miss with that physique.

The chick fil a panhandlers on Franklin are the worst. They make too much money to ever go elsewhere.


Their vehicle is parked right next to them at Longhorn Steakhouse all the time too.
Yep. And if you happen to pass by at a certain time of day, you'll catch the "shift change" where one will go off duty and the next one will take his place.
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GoldenBear03
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In reply to whitetrash • 11:41a, 9/8/23
whitetrash said:
BaylorHistory said:
Coyote Bear said:
Moondoggie said:
We have a pathetic but ripped muscularly 67 year old African American man who lives behind target. He dry shoves his head daily. I'm sure he will be out there in the 108 degree heat tomorrow. Anyone see him? He never panhandles but I still buy him food. Wish I could do more.


I see him on Bosque all the time. Hard to miss with that physique.

The chick fil a panhandlers on Franklin are the worst. They make too much money to ever go elsewhere.


Their vehicle is parked right next to them at Longhorn Steakhouse all the time too.
Yep. And if you happen to pass by at a certain time of day, you'll catch the "shift change" where one will go off duty and the next one will take his place.
Witnessed it yesterday. It's hard to tell if it's a shift change sometimes or a fight about to happen over the particular "spot."
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BaylorGuy314
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10:41p, 9/9/23
Watched a couple of them at the Hwy 84/Hwy 6 intersection meet over at the 7 Eleven and jump into an Escalade a few years ago.

A while back, a beggar came over to me at the gas station saying he was hungry. I said "Sorry to hear that, let's go inside and I'll get you something to eat and drink." He said "thanks" but as we were about to walk in he said "Man, I really don't want food from here. Can you just give me cash?" To which I told him that I was in a low on cash but would be happy to grab something from here. Finally he admitted "Man, i'm just looking to get high. Do you have any cash?" Naw man, sorry.

There is a documentary online of people that do this for a living. Many make $10-20/hour which isn't much but when pooled together which a bunch of others gives you enough to put a roof over your head and meth in your lungs.
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Edmond Bear
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In reply to whitetrash • 5:39p, 9/10/23
whitetrash said:
BaylorHistory said:
Coyote Bear said:
Moondoggie said:
We have a pathetic but ripped muscularly 67 year old African American man who lives behind target. He dry shoves his head daily. I'm sure he will be out there in the 108 degree heat tomorrow. Anyone see him? He never panhandles but I still buy him food. Wish I could do more.


I see him on Bosque all the time. Hard to miss with that physique.

The chick fil a panhandlers on Franklin are the worst. They make too much money to ever go elsewhere.


Their vehicle is parked right next to them at Longhorn Steakhouse all the time too.
Yep. And if you happen to pass by at a certain time of day, you'll catch the "shift change" where one will go off duty and the next one will take his place.


Back in the day ('88-92) a crack Lariat staff reporter did a stakeout on several panhandlers. Found almost all of them driving in away in their cars to their houses.

My apartment was on the other side of I-35 near FBC on fifth street. Every day I went to class, I saw shift change where one guy got out of his wheelchair, handed his sign to the next guy, and walked away.

There is a guy in Edmond who picks up families and drops them off at Wal-Mart or wherever to panhandle. He picks them up later and takes a cut of their 'earnings'.

I keep McDonald's gift cards on me in order to give food and follow Christ's example of loving the poor…unless I know for sure it is fraudulent.

I figure what happens with the money or the card after I give it away is between that person and God.
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hodedofome
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In reply to BaylorGuy314 • 2:28p, 9/11/23
BaylorGuy314 said:
Watched a couple of them at the Hwy 84/Hwy 6 intersection meet over at the 7 Eleven and jump into an Escalade a few years ago.

A while back, a beggar came over to me at the gas station saying he was hungry. I said "Sorry to hear that, let's go inside and I'll get you something to eat and drink." He said "thanks" but as we were about to walk in he said "Man, I really don't want food from here. Can you just give me cash?" To which I told him that I was in a low on cash but would be happy to grab something from here. Finally he admitted "Man, i'm just looking to get high. Do you have any cash?" Naw man, sorry.

There is a documentary online of people that do this for a living. Many make $10-20/hour which isn't much but when pooled together which a bunch of others gives you enough to put a roof over your head and meth in your lungs.
I used to work at the American Plaza building, and witnessed this all the time. They park their car at the parking lot, grab their sign and then walk over to the intersection.
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whitetrash
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In reply to whitetrash • 2:35p, 9/11/23
whitetrash said:
BaylorHistory said:
Coyote Bear said:
Moondoggie said:
We have a pathetic but ripped muscularly 67 year old African American man who lives behind target. He dry shoves his head daily. I'm sure he will be out there in the 108 degree heat tomorrow. Anyone see him? He never panhandles but I still buy him food. Wish I could do more.


I see him on Bosque all the time. Hard to miss with that physique.

The chick fil a panhandlers on Franklin are the worst. They make too much money to ever go elsewhere.


Their vehicle is parked right next to them at Longhorn Steakhouse all the time too.
Yep. And if you happen to pass by at a certain time of day, you'll catch the "shift change" where one will go off duty and the next one will take his place.
Ran up to Walmart about 5:30 yesterday. Turned in between CFA and Longhorn. Guy was sitting on the grass in the usual spot. Was in Walmart about 15-20 min. When I came out, I noticed the beatup Ford van parked in the corner spot of Longhorn under the tree, closest to Franklin and CFA. A different guy was standing in the usual spot, and the guy who was there when I went in was over leaning on the van drinking a Gatorade. A third guy was hanging out with them too.
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Bear_Fan254
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10:40a, 9/12/23
A couple weeks ago I was grabbing lunch at a Whataburger in town and an older homeless guy who I've seen around Waco for 10+ years came over to my table asking me for money so he can buy lunch.

Normally I might say yes depending on the situation but I've had interactions with this guy before and he has said incredibly crass or rude things if you don't give him what he deems enough. When I told him no using the classic "I don't have any cash on me" he immediately fired back, "Yeah but you have a credit card so that is just a ******* excuse, you b*tch".

So yeah, didn't feel guilty saying no to that one.
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Coke Bear
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1:13p, 9/12/23
Several years ago, I was moving stuff into the first apartment that my wife and I would share when we got married. I pulled into the Valero on Loop 340 across from Providence (Maybe a Diamond Shamrock) to get some Powerades to cool off during the move.

Waiting to pay, this "homeless" guy dumps a wad of singles, $5, and coins that covers the counter so that he could change it into $20's. I quit giving money to people on the corner that day.

The LifeTeen program at my parish has made "blessing bags" for us to distribute. We'll include toiletries, a water bottle, and a small snack bar.

At least this way, I'm not contributing to what is most likely a substance abuse issue.
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Yogi
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6:09p, 9/12/23
Any takers?

"Smarter than the Average Bear."
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trey3216
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In reply to Yogi • 6:17p, 9/12/23
Yogi said:
Any takers?

headed to Lorena from Georges I see…
Mr. Treehorn treats objects like women, man.
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hodedofome
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In reply to Coke Bear • 9:17a, 9/14/23
Your name is Coke Bear and you're trying to keep people from substance abuse?

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Coke Bear
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In reply to hodedofome • 10:14a, 9/14/23
hodedofome said:
Your name is Coke Bear and you're trying to keep people from substance abuse?

lol! I worked for Coca-Cola for about 10 years.
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