Panhandling Ban Violates 1A in Denver

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Originally Posted by izzy

There is this panhandler who is so horrible, he somehow takes money out of my pay every month. I'm pretty sure the cash gets flushed down the drain.

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Good one.

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Originally Posted by Ah Pook

Boulder is ground zero for beggars. They are even it the neighborhoods.

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Indeed, in CO, I suspect Boulder wins the prize for most beggars per intersection and like Pook says, they are even in some residential neighborhoods at 4-way stop signs now. They'll keep doing it as long as it continues to work.

I don't give to beggars. I found a guy with his hazards on half in the roadway last winter. Out of gas. He politely refused help until I pointed out he was in danger. Towed him to the nearest station and put $20 on the pump. He chased me down trying to get my info to pay me back. I told him give it to his church when he got ahead again.

I never give to beggars. Ever.
Until today. I stopped for gas on my way to work, and there was a guy standing under a tree near the gas pumps, (out of the way), playing a guitar and singing. He really had a beautiful voice, and was a skilled guitarist. He had a sign on his guitar case, saying he could use some $ for gas. He wasn't bugging anyone, and made my time at the pump more enjoyable. So I gave him a couple bucks in change. He gave a genuine "thank you", and kept singing. I'm good with it.

but professional bums, drunks, 16th Street gutter rats, etc, never get a thing from me. They already get plenty of the money I pay in taxes, and I'm not happy about it. I find that being mean and gruff (ok, just being myself) tends to shorten the amount of time I have to listen to them.

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Originally Posted by Fentonite

I never give to beggars. Ever.
Until today. I stopped for gas on my way to work, and there was a guy standing under a tree near the gas pumps, (out of the way), playing a guitar and singing. He really had a beautiful voice, and was a skilled guitarist. He had a sign on his guitar case, saying he could use some $ for gas. He wasn't bugging anyone, and made my time at the pump more enjoyable. So I gave him a couple bucks in change. He gave a genuine "thank you", and kept singing. I'm good with it.

but professional bums, drunks, 16th Street gutter rats, etc, never get a thing from me. They already get plenty of the money I pay in taxes, and I'm not happy about it. I find that being mean and gruff (ok, just being myself) tends to shorten the amount of time I have to listen to them.

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Busking is not begging, IMO.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_performance

He provided a service and advertised that he would take compensation freely given. You provided compensation based on the value you set on the service performed. No different than contributing to any worthy cause you may find valuable to support.

Giving money to strangers without knowing where that money is going would be like donating to something invisible out of ignorance. If it is good to not feed the wildlife, than it is even more important not to pay people to play in traffic.

I should make a "Victim Of Obama" sign...

I get suckered by the beggars with dogs every single time.

I look at the individual and think: 'You look like you can work'

I look at the dog and think: 'You're relying on them to eat'?

And then I give a few bucks.

They're probably just using the dog as a fishing lure for a sap like me, but I can't help myself.

I should probably start rolling around with dog food in my car.

If you can't afford to feed yourself you can't afford a dog and all that goes with it. More bad decision making.

"Go with the mediocre", that's funny.

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Originally Posted by Scanker19

Panhandling is a huge problem down here. I always give them something for two reasons: one they actually need it and are using their last shred of dignity to ask, or it will encourage poor decisions and further hasten their path.

Also so there are a lot of "couples" panhandling down here. Sometimes the girl is really cute. I've always wondered how easy it would be to pick one up. "Hey, lose the zero and go with the mediocre yet secure paycheck guy." Plus the bonus of dating a homeless girl is you can drop her off anywhere.

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