Safety ambassadors could be a welcoming presence downtown and help curb aggressive panhandling
If you really want to understand an issue, ask the experts. That’s what a task force on aggressive panhandling did. It brought in people who actually panhandle on the streets of downtown Ann Arbor - and got an earful.
The panhandlers didn’t mince words. They’re not homeless, they said. They have homes. They said they like to drink. When people give them money, they use it to buy liquor. They know there are social services available, but they don’t want help.
To be clear, the issue of panhandling is not nearly that simple. Nor do the stories of a handful of panhandlers reflect the situation of every person who might approach you with a sad tale and a request for money.
To download a PDF of the Mayor's Street Outreach Task Force report, click here.
But the testimony of these panhandlers was good reality therapy for the task force, and helped frame both the issue at hand and the recommendations that are now headed to City Council.
Ann Arbor has confronted this problem before. In 2003, concerns about in-your-face panhandling were serious enough that a task force was appointed. The result was a series of recommendations that included a new city ordinance, police foot patrols and an awareness campaign to encourage people to give their money to social service agencies rather than handing it over to panhandlers who would likely use it to feed a dependency.
The problem abated for a while, but panhandling never goes away entirely and recently, it’s became more noticeable again, fed by a deteriorating economy and the intimidating presence of some young people who came to Ann Arbor for Punk Week activities last summer.
How serious is the panhandling problem? Many people who regularly spend time downtown don’t see it as a major concern. But there’s enough perception of a problem to suggest it needs to be addressed.
The current task force recommendations include a three-pronged approach of:
• Creating wallet-sized information cards that offer useful information on local programs where people with genuine needs can go for help.
• Launching a “Have a Heart, Give Smart’’ campaign that encourages people to go to a soon-to-be launched website to contribute to human service agencies.
• Educate the community on the difference between passive and aggressive panhandling, and explaining how to best handle it.
The task force also recommends a fine-tuning of the panhandling ordinance, and some targeted police foot patrols, though that will be limited by city budget shortfalls.
It’s important to remember that passive panhandling is a legal, free-speech activity. Within the city ordinance, someone has a right to ask you for money on the street, and it’s your right to give him money or not.
But really, you shouldn’t. Rather than be an enabler to someone who has a drug or alcohol problem, you should direct the person to services, and direct your money to human service agencies, which are cash-strapped and need your support.
As for the awareness portions of the strategy, we find ourselves lukewarm to those ideas. We don’t know if a website is front-of-mind enough. People are most likely to give right after they’ve been panhandled, and a more visible element, like a donation box, might get better response. But we understand that approach was tried back in 2003 and worked for a while, but didn’t prove sustainable.
We appreciate the work the task force put into this issue, but given the intractable nature of panhandling, we strongly encourage the city and the Downtown Development Authority to go beyond the current recommendations and seriously consider a “downtown safety ambassador’’ program.
Such ambassadors would not be beat cops. Given the city’s budget realities, we doubt it can restore the downtown foot and bike patrols, beyond some limited presence. An ambassador program would be a less costly, more proactive approach that would benefit downtown in many other ways.
In cities like Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Cleveland, downtowns have created assessment districts that pay for uniformed ambassadors who walk the streets, helping visitors, answering questions and, when necessary, acting as the eyes and ears for police on issues like public drunkenness or aggressive panhandling.
The DDA is contemplating such a concept here, and we encourage its development. The approach requires creating a business improvement district, somewhat similar to the business improvement zone that was set up along Main Street last year to focus on litter pickup and sidewalk snow removal that the city doesn’t provide. That effort has been successful so far, and offers a model for expanding the concept into something more ambitious like an ambassador program.
Having uniformed ambassadors visible on our streets could do a lot to promote the sense of a safe, welcoming downtown, and arming them with the information card being recommended by the task force would be a plus. This would be an excellent way to monitor and minimize panhandling activity over time, while making the downtown experience more friendly and enjoyable in other ways.
Whether City Council accepts some or all of the task force recommendations on Monday, we urge it to go beyond those measures and consider an eventual safety ambassador program for the central city.
(This editorial was published in today's newspaper and reflects the opinion of the Editorial Board at AnnArbor.com.)
Comments
murphthesurf
Sun, Feb 19, 2012 : 12:33 p.m.
this problem is not unique to ann arbor,its a nation wide problem that isn't going away no matter what city govt's try to do,you can go to any large city or even small ones and the problem is there as well ! because theres so many different reasons for a person to be on the streets,there isn't a single answer to the problem! a lot of these people choose to live this life style. they find it easier to ask people for a handout then to have to work for it and if we keep giving them money it only reinforces their belief that 'WHY WORK WHEN I DON'T NEED TO'?. if the general public ever wakes up and realizes that 'WERE THE PROBLEM,NOT THEM' and stops giving handouts to them,it will send a message to them to either move on or to get help!! WE MUST STOP BEING SUCKERS!
jtwilkins
Mon, Mar 21, 2011 : 5:07 a.m.
I'm more worried about my children or myself getting run over when riding a bike then if some wealthy college kids are not smart enough to figure out not to pay for a panhandlers booze. Can we get "Safety ambassadors" for that?
Hemenway
Mon, Mar 21, 2011 : 1:23 a.m.
I have been agressively panhandled and it's another reason why I avoid downtown, these people are frauds and should be arrested. It wasn't this bad ten years ago.
C
Mon, Mar 21, 2011 : 1:10 a.m.
I hope someone can help that man who has been sitting outside the White Market for years. He's the only one I give to. :(
treetowncartel
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 7:11 p.m.
When people approach me and it seems apparent that they are are going to ask me for money, I will sometimes ask them that question before they can ask it of me. Usually, it stops them dead in their tracks. Another good thing to ask for is a pint of vodka, maybe Heaven Hill or Five O'clock.
rusty shackelford
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 4:40 p.m.
Perhaps I'm just in the wrong circles, but I've never been "aggressively" pan-handled, nor do I know anyone who has mentioned this happening to them. Just don't make eye contact and keep walking. What is it that makes panhandling "aggressive" as opposed to run-of-the mill?
Ricebrnr
Mon, Mar 21, 2011 : 12:42 a.m.
Me as well so now you know 2. That being said these AA panhandlers are soft compared to New York City ones. Then again AA citizens are generally so as well so I can see how proportionately...
EyeHeartA2
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 5:16 p.m.
I've been. Now you have heard of it happening to somebody. I don't personally know anyone who has been stabbed, but I believe it has happened to some people.
David Cahill
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 1:49 p.m.
I can't find the news article on the Street Outreach Task Force report that normally would have accompanied this opinion piece. The report has been on the City's website since Friday. Maybe the user-hostile nature of that website frustrated the accessing of the report. First, find the agenda for the Council meeting of March 21 - not an easy task in itself. There is an item under "Introductions" numbered INT-2, about the report, with a link to file number 11-0371. Take that link, and you should wind up at: <a href="http://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=852485&GUID=5D3324B3-B6F5-4201-B35D-A6ADE9DA5F38" rel='nofollow'>http://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=852485&GUID=5D3324B3-B6F5-4201-B35D-A6ADE9DA5F38</a> Then, click on the attachment marked "Street Outreach Task Force Report [1]. The report, a lengthy .pdf file, should come up.
Cash
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 2:31 p.m.
"user-hostile"...that's funny! :-)
jcj
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 1:08 p.m.
The current task force recommendations include a three-pronged approach of: • Creating wallet-sized information cards that offer useful information on local programs where people with genuine needs can go for help Based on the comments of a panhandler I think this is utter stupidity! Geoffrey Scott was the most vocal of the three panhandlers who spoke at the meeting Among Scott's observations: * Panhandlers come to Ann Arbor because there is money here, and because it's home to a bunch of rich college kids with soft hearts, and because it's known to be a liberal city with plenty of support services for the needy. * The money he makes is not used for food. "If you don't know how to find food in Ann Arbor, something's wrong with you … No one's hungry." * The best money is made on expressway ramps. * You'll make a lot more money if you say you're a Vietnam vet. Scott is not a veteran in that sense. "I say I'm a street vet," he says. "That's true." * The colder you look, the more money you make. "If you can cry, all the better." * Some panhandlers choose it as a profession. Others feed drug addictions. What more do you need to know? * The money he makes is not used for food. "If you don't know how to find food in Ann Arbor, something's wrong with you … No one's hungry."
pbehjatnia
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 1:02 p.m.
another awesomely good use of our tax dollars. yay.
jcj
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 1 p.m.
It will be interesting to see which of those that commented on the following (Is it legal for a person to beg on freeway ramps in Michigan?) will comment here disputing the comments of ACTUAL panhandlers! Please follow the link and read! <a href="http://annarborchronicle.com/2010/12/31/ann-arbor-task-force-consults-panhandlers/" rel='nofollow'>http://annarborchronicle.com/2010/12/31/ann-arbor-task-force-consults-panhandlers/</a> And then defend the panhandlers!
Ricebrnr
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 12:55 p.m.
"Many people...don't see it as a major concern. But there's enough perception of a problem to suggest it needs to be addressed." Rather amusing commentary, considering the situation on this blog. Proof that perception is reality. Sad commentary.
Cash
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 12:30 p.m.
<a href="http://www.mlive.com/health/index.ssf/2011/03/mental_illness_blocks_many_fro.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.mlive.com/health/index.ssf/2011/03/mental_illness_blocks_many_fro.html</a> For anyone who has an interest, this M Live article pinpoint the serious issues for those with mental illness. Thanks.
Brad
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 12:27 p.m.
"But the testimony of these panhandlers was good reality therapy for the task force" Anybody that thinks we need a "task force" for a problem like this is definitely in need of some therapy.
Cash
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 12:26 p.m.
Has any study been done on how many of the panhandlers are mentally ill? I'm thinking that what they tell you may not be the reality of their situation. A person we knew of who panhandled would tell you he was Jesus one time and had a home in Barton Hills the next. I'm just wondering if the issue of mental illness was considered....because the answers you received may have been what they thought you wanted to hear. I'm not sure, just wondering. I also wonder if they were offered anything for their interviews. Just curious.
Cash
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 3:59 p.m.
Thanks Tony... and jcj of COURSE it is a legitimate question, in my opinion! I wondered if mental illness became part of the discussion and if that was used to weigh the answers.
jcj
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 1:38 p.m.
Cash It is entirely possible and even likely that there are some panhandlers that are mentally ill. But then there are people that post on A2 .com that some might "consider mentally ill" I am sure that if the moderators allowed it I would have been accused of this malady a few times! I hope this is a legitimate question and not intended to discount the comments of these admitted panhandlers.
Tony Dearing
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 1:33 p.m.
Cash, the task force report does address mental illness issues, and it's clear that many panhandlers have mental health problems. I linked to the Ann Arbor Chronicle story on the meeting at which the panhandlers spoke, and according to the story, each panhandler was paid $20, about the amount they would have made if they'd been panhandling on the street at that time.
SonnyDog09
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 12:13 p.m.
How much money did the city waste creating this report?
Tony Dearing
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 1:30 p.m.
This isn't a consulting report commissioned by the city. The mayor appointed the task force, and the people who serve on it are volunteers.
EyeHeartA2
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 12:06 p.m.
Two articles in less than a week with independant data that the panhandlers are NOT homeless and use the money for drugs and alcohol. Shocking. I wonder when it will sink in that panhandlers are not homeless and use the money for drugs and alcohol. My guess is never.