BANGOR, Maine — Despite the recent failure of a similar ordinance effort in Portland, Bangor city officials are pressing ahead with an effort to regulate panhandling in public ways and city streets.
Bangor City Solicitor Norm Heitmann has begun researching other civic ordinances and possible ordinance language in the wake of a Bangor City Council business and economic committee meeting Tuesday night. At that meeting, councilors discussed concerns and complaints resulting from panhandlers occupying medians, crosswalks and traffic islands while holding signs reading “Will work for food” or “Homeless, please help.”
“The courts have ruled that asking for money is protected by the First Amendment, but it’s really more than just someone asking for money,” said Heitmann. “The concerns some councilors have expressed center on safety.”
Heitmann provided some examples of potential actions or situations arising from panhandling, such as a car getting rear-ended by another vehicle after slowing down or stopping for the driver to hand someone some money.
“There’s always that danger,” Heitmann said. “Or maybe you stop to give money and the guy walks around to the passenger side of the car and meanwhile, the car behind you is speeding around to pass you on the right and he hits the guy walking out to the other side. That’s a real and legitimate concern.”
Bangor police Sgt. Tom Reagan said it’s become a problem, both in terms of safety and being a public nuisance.
“They do kind of blend into the background a lot, until they get in the street and become a safety issue by obstructing traffic,” said Reagan.
Reagan said he doesn’t buy rumors that some panhandlers are being paid to beg for money by drug dealers and paid for their efforts with drugs.
“I don’t think anyone is working for a drug dealer. I think they may be working for drugs, but not necessarily for a drug dealer,” he said.
Reagan said another unsaid truth about some of the panhandlers is that they’re not really just looking for food.
“There used to be one who hung out on the I-95 south exit on Broadway with a ‘Homeless. Need money for food’ sign,” Reagan said. “We got a complaint and went out, and when you looked at the field he was standing in front of, there were all of these wrapped sandwiches and packages of food people had given him over the last couple weeks that he had tossed.
“He didn’t want food, he wanted money.”
Reagan said city ordinance or not, the best thing people can do is to stop giving panhandlers money.
“People think they’re being good and helping someone, but you’re basically only enabling them,” Reagan said. “If people want to help out or be generous, they should donate either food or money to the local food banks like Manna or the homeless shelters.”
Reagan said current law already gives police the power to move panhandlers or arrest them if they resist orders to move if they’re on private property, like the medians or islands in Kohl’s Plaza off Stillwater Avenue.
Heitmann said he’s not sure exactly when the councilors will revisit the issue, but he should be ready to present them with options in a couple of weeks.
“The big thing is creating an ordinance that regulates behavior, not class or person,” said Heitmann. “And you have to keep in mind that what you regulate can be about more than just soliciting money. It applies to asking for signatures on a petition, taking a survey or asking to talk to someone about religion.”
The main aim for a potential new ordinance is to decrease unsafe behavior and ensure that motorists and pedestrians can travel freely and without resistance.
“If you’re walking down the sidewalk, you should be free to go where you’re going. That doesn’t mean I can’t say, ‘Hey, can you spare some change, or would you like to sign this or talk religion with me?’” said Heitmann. “But when you say ‘no,’ you should be able to go on your way unfettered, and not have me get in front of your face or yell at you. And there’s a way to address that.”
Shenna Bellows, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, is uncomfortable with the idea of regulating what courts have established as freedom of speech.
“Free speech rights of people who are homeless should be reviewed with the highest level of scrutiny,” Bellows said. “We are very concerned with what we see as a trend across the country to single out people who are homeless and criminalize homelessness.
“Regardless of the intent, the impact of such laws is discriminatory.”
And what of public safety concerns?
“There was a similar debate in Portland about a month ago and some of those hypothetical situations were mentioned then too,” said Bellows, who noted Portland’s anti-panhandling ordinance proposal was defeated 6-3. “If the government is going to restrict First Amendment rights, it has to have a good reason and the council should move very cautiously in adopting any ordinances that would restrict free speech activity.”
Heitmann acknowledged the federally protected status of panhandling as free speech, but said that doesn’t mean free speech can always be used to infringe other rights or safety.
“The First Amendment doesn’t exist just to protect the speech we all agree with, but also the speech that may make us uncomfortable as well,” said Bellows. “That goes to the heart of free speech.”
You’re not kidding he’s eating very well maybe I’m in the wrong line of work!!
A fool and his or her money are soon parted.
Doesn’t appear that this dude has ever missed a meal. We noticed these guys a few weeks ago, including the shift change, cigarettes, and cell phones. Talk about organized non-labor!
Don’t forget the tattoos!
Right, because anyone who isn’t starving and wearing rags obviously isn’t poor. Uh huh.
Yes, I have noticed the shift changes, and cooperation/coordination among them. I wonder if they pool their “earnings” at the end of the day and have one big party?
The man pictured in this video would be better off walking up and down Stillwater Ave for hours on end instead of just standing there. That would utilize some of the excess calories packed on, and it would improve his health and energy. Who knows what would happen in his life if increased fitness resulted? Certainly, he would be better able to perform the duties of a job.
But whether slim of heavy, the real issue is that if it was truly a matter of homelessness and or unemployment, there are existing services to help these folks get back on their feet. What they make from panhandling is surplus—and most of the rest of us these days have NO surplus income–so why should they at our expense?!
You mean FAT Albert? What a pig. He could go without food for a month and be okay, butI bet he’s counting his money to see if he’s got enough for TWO large #3s at McDonald’s.
Do you think the money he collected is enough to purchase a month’s supply of food?
Do you think he NEEDS a month’s supply of food? Looks like he woke up with it around his midsection already.
They’re not sitting down with a spreadsheet and budgeting their “income” for the month. They live 40 oz. to 40 oz. and/ or McDouble to McDouble.
It is almost like cheap food is unhealthy and healthy food costs money! Who would think a poor person begging for money cannot afford to cook healthy, fresh meals and hit up the gym ever morning.
EXACTLY, Mainer1. The one that periodically stands over at the Brewer Walmart entrance has a well kept little dog on a lease, too. Maybe they can train it to beg for cash as well.
What happens to the poor dog when the lease is up? Is there an option to buy? Big balloon payment at the end?
Healthy good for you food is expensive.
Rarely is lousy food that so many eat good or low in calories. It doesn’t mean he’s stuffing his face with good food but only the food he can afford that is laden with fat calories.
No, healthy food is not expensive. You can grow tomatoes in the summertime for the cost of a packet of seeds, same with squash, cukes, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, radishes, etc. Community garden plots exists. Except this requires EFFORT.
Part of the underworld economics. Cash, no Taxes and probably still on welfare. And people want to put higher taxes on the rich. These crooks should be the ones punished.
punish the people giving them money, that’s their incentive to panhandle….
I’ve never experienced a situation where a panhandler has caused a problem that even remotely affected my safe driving or that of another driver near me. What has caused me a number of close calls are the damnable campaign signs erected before every election in the publis rights-of-way near intersections, traffic islands, school zones and business entrances. Forget the panhandlers and public safety, inprove public safety by restricting campaign signs to private property as other communities have done.
Out of curiosity, does seeing a candidates name every 100 feet as you drive down the road influence your vote? It does me. It tells me the candidate doesn’t care about public safety, that the candidate is fiscally irresponsable, that the candidate is otherwise unable to articulate his position on governing and thinks the voters aren’t bright enough to figure out we are being treated like Pavlov’s dogs- see the sign, see the sign, see the sign…mark the box in the voter’s booth that has the name on the sign.
Campaign signs- see also articles on littering, trash disposal, graffiti and silly, wasteful, time wasting politicians.
Something has to be done about this. It’s becoming a DAILY occurance that I pass by on the bus and see these beggars asking for money. I agree with the rest, the big guy shown in the pictures obviously is well fed. He doesn’t look homeless at all… just too fat and lazy to work. In fact, that’s what I think is going on… people not wanting to work, so they ask for money from other people. I’ve seen not one of them appear to be homeless if they can afford a decent pair of clothes, cigarettes and bottled water. I always think “Get a job.” when I see these kinds of people. I have a job working at Wendy’s. Yes, it sucks and it doesn’t pay much, but at least I have an income. Work is not hard… just need to stick with it and earn your money that way. It pays more than begging other people for money all the time.
It’s easy to pass judgement on someone you don’t know isn’t it?
I know your type well. The only time likely that you’re not judging through your liberal orbs is when you are sleeping.
lol, speaking of judging someone….your name has some irony to it….do I need to explain what irony is to you?
Wow, you must have a thesaurus in your trailer. Good for you!
I don’t know about that…..a few comments ago, he got 33.00 in an hour! Its way out of hand, they need to stop it. We have food cupboards and homeless shelters. Get a job!!! As long as people keep feeding them money, they will stay and never work.
Toss em a penny and see what they will do. Or better yet, as them to work for you… LOL they would be to tired or injured to do anything.
Sadly…. this exemplifies the problem with Americans… No one in America can manage a personal budget. ? Do I save myself $500 this month or should I get a flashy neck tattoo?
THERE IS YOUR ANSWER! I just don’t understand why more politicians don’t have tattoos.
Q: Do I save myself $500 this month or should I get a flashy neck tattoo?
No question you should get the neck tat. Not only do they look cool, but they’re really easy to hide. Just get a scarf ya dingus!
please do tell me how to save 500 a month, when SSDI income is 900, that’s rent do, food, meds, gas, power phone that some one gave me. and everything else’s thats do every month? thank god I don’t have kids!
Do these panhandlers pay taxes on the money they collect? This particular dude seems to be doing very well by the looks of him. Bangor should make these scam artists get vendor licenses in order to panhandle and report their earnings to the IRS.
$33.00 x 365 = $12,045.00 a year in free money. Yeah, the IRS should get a clue and be alllll over this scam !!
I take it you’re not a math person? This calculation would be correct if they only begged one hour per day. You should probably multiply your figure above by at least 4 or 5 – then you are talking money that exceeds many households in Maine.
Yeah….. they are making so much money they are probably in the top tax bracket……
They don’t make enough to pay taxes but you knew that, you just wanted to sound important.
Was going to stay out of this, but find myself unable to keep my thoughts to myself. CopSmack, you said it all and your last two sentences are a warning that people of this area need to heed. If you want to donate money, donate to food banks instead! You know your money is going where you want it to go!
DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS!
These organized beggars are no more than a new “scam” or “con” to prey upon us in 2012! Yeah, they try to make those of us who have the means to buy school clothes for our kids, go out to dinner or buy household goods feel bad and throw money out the window at them. NOT ME, I’ve worked my whole life way to hard to fall for this line of bull.
Oh and they are protected by our right to freedom of speech. Really, you see any of them speaking out there??? NOT!
Just because the ordinance didn’t “work” in Portland, don’t back off Bangor City Council. It was a whole different ball game down there. This isn’t Portland, it’s Bangor and we really have more sense here. Let’s clean up this city. This is one way to start!
Might be interesting for known community members , to show up all at the good locations with collection buckets for area food banks and the heating oil fund…. and tape recorders too.
The problem is that while begging is not illegal, it ain’t Maine.
Give Mainers an option, and we might find the private sector solution is enough
to end the problem.
,
People are allowed to “Occupy” anyplace during the day and receive hand outs but it can’t be done on the median? Slippery slope folks.
Median was not built for people to stand and be, the sidewalk is designed for people to stay. They should not be in medians, but I have no problem them being on the side walks.
Yes but they need disposable income too.
I am surprised so many on this board have a problem here. Man, just when I thought I had all these bleeding heart dems and libs figured out I read that they are wanting to hold back and attack the homeless. I’ll keep giving them money, I feel bad for them and for the most part they seem grateful someone put down the window and handed them some cash. They are still human, I know I couldn’t do it.
The guys that play the plastic buckets outside Fenway and the street performers in Paris, now those guys have a racket.
The dems are not attacking them. The dems are the ones fighting for there first amendment rights, you know the rights the Republicans say they love so much.
The Dems are the ones who support these bums. Cut them off and they’ll get a job.
“Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, teach him to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.”
I have never given these guys money, but I will stand up for their fist amendment right.
“Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, teach him to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.”
I like this one better.
“Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, teach him to fish and he’ll sit in the boat and drink beer all day.” :-)
give a man ramen noodles and you don’t have to teach him anything.
LAWRENCE DOWNES
I always thought it was, “Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he’ll sit in a boat and drink beer all day”. ;^)
That is a load of BS.
Some guy asked me for money the other day on Main St. I said , Sorry,no. I get… you’re not FN sorry you FN A-Hole. Go F yourself. He went on and on pacing around me, before walking off. 10 mins later he was back with all the profanity again. A few mins later I see BPD giving him the ole Rosco P Coltrane… “Cuff ’em and stuff ’em” in the back of the cruiser.
Last time I got hit up for money I said I was just starting my bumming shift for the day and didn’t have any yet and to wait right there I’d be back later……
I think it is responses like you received are the ones that leaves such a “sour taste” in the mouths of the “rest of us”… and it will definitely makes you rethink your desire to help.
There was this one day when a drunken homeless guy comes my way while I was waiting for the bus. He was bothering everyone else, so he comes to bug me for money. I responded by saying I’m just as broke as he is. Then he continuously bugs me afterward. I tried to be nice about it but he wasn’t giving me a choice. I ended up yelling at him and telling him about what part of what I just said didn’t he understand… must have been the whole sentence. I also told him to get lost. After that, he finally shut up and went about his way. These beggars don’t get a hint. Us WORKING people are just as poor as the next person trying to get by on what we got.
Trip em… then tell them to get a job.
Probably most of these people panhandling already have money and are just doing this as a side job..I mean anyone can say they are homeless or out of work and get free money handed to them…..By concerned people who just want to help..When they prob have more money than any of us HARD WORKING People
They should get a permit…..
The other day I went down stillwater and it seems on every island to a mall was a pan handler, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Kohls, it is like every where you turn, panhandler.
As the article says, don’t give them anything, and I don’t. Sorry but some people who do this are scams, and when you are out smoking cigarettes, you are not spending the money well.
I wish these businesses would take action to get the pan handlers off the islands, nothing says Bangor like sitting at red lights and seeing a guy with a cigarette holding a cardboard sign “Homeless please help” next to you.
They are protected by the first amendment right. They do not cause accidents, drive inattention cause accidents. If you do like what they are doing don’t give them money.
“don’t give them money” Umm yeah I just said that. That’s why private property owners should send them elsewheres, I mean let’s think about it for a moment, you go into every mall entrance, store entrance, any road that has a red light with a curb in the middle of it through Bangor and there is a pan handler wanting money? Is Bangor in that bad of a shape? Not really when you get some that refuse food and want money to support the smoking habit.
If I go pull up a road and start selling stuff the city will require (at last check) a permit and all I am doing is wanting people to see and like my product and give me money, so why does a pan handler who9m gets to hold a cardboard sign to feel sorry for them get to ask for money in exchange for feeling sorry for them?
The Pan handling is a bit out of control, I mean now it is not just the businesses, it is now Hogan Road, Bangor Mall entrances, to see that many people allowed to stand out and hold a cardboard sign does not say much for what type of city Bangor is supposed to be.
You have to drive to all those locations. so they most likely have cars in the parking lot
Just a quick, off-topic point: you don’t HAVE to drive to any of those locations. I’ve been to all of them by bus and/or bicycle. Of course I’d rather spend money at businesses that don’t assume everybody drives to get there.
Right but it gets a little unattractive to see this “invasion” of pan handlers in Bangor, I mean look this article is pointing out people form out of state! Really? Sure in a city I remember seeing one or two wide apart. If people could avoid some of these places, they would.
They should be filling out permit applications, and paying taxes. If the IRS caught you or I making money by simply working and it is even less then what these guys made, oh they would be all over us.
Norm – it might be easier to go at this like Anchorage is tackling it:
Anchorage authorities will be ticketing drivers and passengers who give money while on the roadway, and motor vehicle laws, not anti-panhandling statutes, are the basis for the crack-down.
I think he may have had a few 16oz sodas.
He better watch out, Bloomberg will get him!
Bangor – the infected toenail of Maine.
It is on its way downward. I wonder if it will turn around when the economy does or has it taken hold for good like so many other cities.
Bangor’s city council allowed 3 Methodone clinics to open in town, which essentially rolled out the red carpet to drug addicts. They also refused to create residency restrictions for convicted child rapists (they can live anywhere they want in Bangor, including next to school, parks and daycare centers). They also allow the city to give free food, housing and more to convicted sex offenders and they’ve done nothing to stop other cities and even other states from sending convicted child molesters to Bangor. When you invite felons and drug addicts to live with you, and offer them free food, housing, and even free drugs, this is what happens. Your city turns into a cesspool. Crime goes up, good, law-abiding taxpayers leave, property values plummet, etc., etc., etc. This has nothing to do with the economy. It’s solely the fault of the city council, who allowed this to happen.
Try Lewiston…
I offered work to one of those with a sign saying will work for food and their responce was they didn’t have time today.ya right.and that was in 1988 so this is nothing new.
I have been approached by at least one of these panhandlers and if you ignore them or say “no thank you” or “I’m all set” they get extremely angry. I know people who will stop and give them job applications instead of money, which I think is a brilliant idea. If they can stand there for 8 hours and hold up a sign, I think they are more than capable of working for 8 hours. It may make them angry, which I heard it does, but I’m not handing them more of my money…enough is taken out in taxes to pay for these people.
Has never happen to me and I say no all the time.
You can give them a job if you like. I won’t
Those kinds of jobs are illegal if you get paid for them
I have never been verbally abused by anyone asking for money.
I bet that makes you feel like a really important and relevant person, doesn’t it?
Same. I either say “I don’t have any cash” or “Sorry man, I can’t” and they just say “ok” or “thanks” and walk off.
It is the idea that your privacy is invaded. They are playing on your social concience to coerce you into a thoughtless action. Whether you choose to donate, or not, the problem will not be resolved and in many cases will only be exacerbated. What if each of us starts to solicit everyone we pass every day? I don’t even care for all the “good cause” and “club” fund raising tables found at the exit of many stores. At least I am a bit more sure that the money will be used for its intended purpose.
Firstly I’ve had 2 instances where I’ve been haggled over the years – both on the waterfront. One was a colored gentleman who asked “50 cents for the bus” and was standing outside the Shaw’s. The other was at the Zac Brown Concert back in June when a guy was walking up the entrance to the concert asking for money. I don’t know if this is a daily thing or if its every concert they come out but it seriously put me out.
Secondly what is up with all the panhandlers lately? I believe a previous poster was correct in saying we give everything for these type of people – housing, money (taxpayer), sober living, drugs addiction help, and other assistance but as I’ve said many times we keep giving and giving they still want more. CUT THEM OFF. SEND THEM ALONG OR ARREST THEM!
“colored” ??
he was a black man
lol…imagine that in this day and age….
Did you really just say “colored”…….are you serious??
Black is a color and I assume this guy was black. No big deal.
I just threw up in my mouth. Yep….this is the state we live in. People still use the word “colored” like they are a 90 year old grandma knitting talking about the 40’s and 50’s…..sad.
I fail to see what is wrong with it. Black is a color and he was apparently black. Explain yourself.
It’s 2012 and this guy just said that he had a “colored gentleman” approach him for money…..who even says that??????? This guy does apparently……next “colored” person you see you should ask them if they like to be called “colored”. Ignorance. I feel sorry for the person that still refers to Black people as “colored”.
Black people call themselves worst names than colored
don’t you get it? my name’s al brady son
Me too, for those who say White people, how disparaging.
Actually, black is the absence of all color, technically.
/the more you know
I know, sickening isn’t, they still call people white too.
Actually black is a neutral, not a color.
shade
What is todays politicaly correct term? Tell us please. If you got robbed by a white person how would you discribe your assailant? as a human? a human robbed me.. LOL
a white man?
Well, this is Maine, so I’d just say, some guy robbed me. 99% of us are white here. Ha ha.
Caucasian
Must be from either 1950 or Alabama. Or both. Ha ha ha.
What color was he?
i already said it he was a black man
i already said he was a black man
Oh my, not Politically Correct ……………………………….. GOOD for you.
I for one, am sick and tired of tip towing around words and comments because I might offend some thin skinned person, because I unintentionally didn’t say or do something “Politically Correct”.
Its looks like the one that is homeless has not missed many meals. His belly has dunlap over and over his belt.
Labor Ready pays you at the end of the day!!
You can work almost everyday and get paid.
All it takes is a little effort.
That’s all fine and dandy, but here’s the problem. People are LAZY and DON’T want to work. That’s why they panhandle so that they don’t have to work.
I’m starting to think about doing it myself…i want to be like the welfare dependant in the video and roll cash money in my hand…I’ll be at the Dunkin’ Donuts on Main Street Saturday September 8th and on stillwater Sunday September 9th…come and give me cash…i need to get my 3-years-now-deceased mothers ashes to NYC…$2 really goes a long way
Thanks for letting us know where you’ll be, Could you be more specific on time cause there’s nothing I like more when I’m bumming is to have a coffee with my cigarettes and I don’t wamt to have to walk too far to get a coffee. I like a little Baileys in my coffee too and Shaws is right there next to the double D on Main St. I don’t want to cut in on your action or you on mine.
And you have your first amendment right to do so.
If someone truly needs help, I have no problem. It seems this is becoming way to familiar and a way to make money. I saw one smoking a cig and talking on a cell phone, mmmmm, makes ya think!
They are just looking for the NEW American dream. SOMETHING FOR NOTHING ! Why get up and go to work, when the government will pay you to stay home. These people just picking up a little extra cash. Remember when we would work a little OT or pick up a second job for that?
I was raised with the notion that there’s nothing in this life that’s free. If you want it, you have to EARN IT. These people are just getting a free ride and the people that give them money are just telling them it’s ok to not earn a living or work and it’s just encouraging them to be a bunch of freeloaders. What happened to the days when a person could get by on an honest day’s work? Those days seem to be slipping away as people continually get more and more lazy.
I can’t imagine the humiliation of having to stand on the side of the road, begging for money. I’ve seen those with signs stating they have lost their house in a fire and had no insurance. Others stating homeless, no job, death in the family, etc… There is welfare, but that’s not as cut and dry as you would think. What surprises me is the lack of opportunity for those that do want to try and improve their situation. Just watching ABC7, and the panhandler on that show was from Mass… What gives? Well, I’ve been told Maine’s state programs are easier to get on to than other states… In Calais, a guy from North Carolina moved here because of our welfare programs.
Not that I’m a huge fan of him, but why can’t this problem be solved by the Tax Man?
These lay abouts are not paying taxes on any of this.
Nothing against free enterprise but for every happy recipient there is a happy donor. As a former panhandler (for ten minutes) in my teens, it was surprising how much money I gleaned. I think safety is the issue, as well as possible intimidation of donors.
It seems a lot of people simply have no pride in themselves any more—As long as they don’t have to work, and it’s free, they will make disgusting fools of themselves, tell unbelievable lies, and laugh at those who give them the money to continue doing this!
Don’t give them money. It’s that simple.
Don’t give them money then, but do not infringe on there first amendment rights because you don’t like what they are doing .They have a right to do what they do. If they start getting harrassing and standing places not built for people then yes there is a problem. They don’t cause the accidents, drives not paying attention cause them.
I think it would be much more comfy for them if they could have a leather recliner to relax in and a stand to put the ashtray and drink on.
I want to stand out and hold this sign: Yes I had a job, but quit, I make more money this way, its cash, no IRS taxes to pay, and I can get welfare!
Do not give them money… 100 Per Cent are DRUG ADDICTS and DRUNKS…
Portland Idiots: BAN Panhandling …
this is the economy democrats have built in Maine.Yes over the last thirty years they did (BUILD IT).
That is correct.
That is a load of BULL.
back up your comments with facts
Democrats keep their voting block poor and wanting more while telling them they are helping them.All for power and votes.The government has spent trillions in the past only to see the poverty level increase all for democrat votes.I think finally the poor and abused voters the democrats have relied on for reelection and power are waking up to just what has been done to them.OBAMACARE for one
I said facts, not more opinions. Nice try though.
Of course they need to do it, welfare provides everything essential but don’t they need cash for liquor, tobacco, lottery tickets, etc. If only people would just stop giving them money they would go away! But they’re like seagulls, a few idiots “feed” them so they continue to hang around.
Right on!
Yeah he should get a gym membership and start buying fresh foods to cook so he can eat healthy!!!
I had someone approach me as I was pulling through the Main Street Tim Horton’s drive-thru this morning asking for money for food. I told him I’m sorry, I’m paying with plastic, but I’d buy him a breakfast sandwich. He looked at my kind of funny and said no, I only want the cash. Sorry, that’s not going to happen, buddy. If you really wanted the food, you would have accepted.
Most of these people have cars in the parking lots. you think they walk to the Bangor Mall area?. Seen it many times.
Give money to the 500 lbs man.He needs money for “food.”
Translation…… lottery tickets,booze,bath salts,and a night a the “Hammond Hilton.”
It’s a racket, the same guy in the lower two photos above was working the intersection of I-395 and the Odlin Road one morning a while back.
I think he figured out right quick all he was going to get was DEAD if he didn’t step away from that guardrail in the middle of that busy, busy intersection.
Semi-trailers would flatten something his size, no problem……I do believe that thought must have passed his mind as he has not been back there.
I have to give money and food to the homeless…Jesus told me to. ” What you do to the least of these, you do to me.”
P. T. Barnum said, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
All those tattoos must be pricey
Umpa Lumpa
The best are the panhandlers who dont look the part. Expensive looking shirts,pants,and hats.Nice watch! Is that a Rolex? Nice Rayban sun glasses. Is that a I phone? Dont forget to look at the shoes. Pricey basketball sneakers? Maybe a shiny pair of Bruno Magli’s like O.J. Simpson used to wear? I once really pissed off a panhandler when I called him out on that. Asked me for 5 bucks.Said to him”your kidding me right?” “Your dressed better than me.””Will you give me 5 instead?” He was furious! A transient tornado if you will….
I bet that made you feel like a really important and relevant person, didn’t it.
Yes
Does this apply to the city coming back and begging money after the annual budget has been passed?
LOL!!!
I will not give to these people now. I had a girl crying to me that she was pregnant, gave her $50.00 enough for a motel room to cover the rest she needed. She stated to me that she was from California and her husband was in the hospital and she had tears, stupid me fell for it. She was not pregnant. I followed her to hotel and she had things stuffed in her belly to make it look like she was pregnant. You will notice also that they all do shift changes, and then at the end of the shifts they meet at Kmart and split the earnings. Bangor needs to stop this, making it look bad
I saw a show once where these people in DC actually did this for a living and they admitted it. They live in beautiful homes in the suburbs and make about $80,000.00 a year panhandling instead of working just by sitting at the subway entrances with a sign “Homeless Vet” or “Homeless Help Me”, etc… and wearing scruffy clothes. I never give anyone panhandling money for that very reason.
Simple solution …………………………. if you want to beg for money, you need a Permit maybe same as a street vendor, if not, your given a free ride to the town/city line.
The problem with those that think the Beggars should go to jail is that it will cost the taxpayers still.
Maybe the old Town Farms (my Grandfather use to tell me about them) should be brought back.
The fat guy in the lower pic doesn’t look like he is “hurting for vittles”. just suffering from “terminal laziness”.
Close all the shelters and food kitchens, and close all the methadone and free health care clinics and watch the problems freeze themselves away this coming winter.
I have no sympathy for the lazy!
That will create more problems. Not everyone who needs shelter and food is lazy.
You’re such an exemplary human being there with your desire to see people to go hungry, get sick, be homeless and die.
Cut that guy some slack.4 triple lobster plates adds up.
That is pathetic. Going after the hungry and homeless. Are there seriously not more important issues to be dealing with in Bangor?
The ones that truly need help won’t/don’t ask for it.
That is such a true statement though, I have encountered people I know who are that way, years ago I was down and out, it might sound foolish but I drained money off my IRA before I thought of calling DHHS for food stamps. I avoided asking for help at all costs, it was the way I was, I knew I had to keep my nose to the grind, I wondered if I stood in line at a DHHS office if an opportunity was going to pass me by.
I will help someone I know who really needs it, if I know someone personally, I know the true story and don’t need worry about if someone holding a cardboard sign is going to scam me.
Will not give you a dollar.If you roll onto a flatbed truck i will gladly buy you a membership at Golds Gym or Jenny Craig.
Thanks for the chuckle!
He’s eating better than I am…. and I work two jobs and raid my mothers fridge regularly LOL!!!
He’s not necessarily eating better than you or anyone who has the money to buy good food.
” If elected president, I will declare a war on poverty. We are going to shoot all the beggars” . A quote from Pat Paulsen in his non candidacy for president in 1968. Still standing pat with you, Pat.
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What a waste of time, BPD can’t commit resources to harmless bullcrap like this. Yet another example of a city council that is completely LOST
It’s quite obvious that the big guy counting the wad of cash is hurting for food. Probably hasn’t eaten in weeks. I hope he got enough money to get a hot meal before he withers away to noting.
There used to be a company around called Labor Ready. If you’re in need of cash you can go there and they’ll find a job for ya. May be for a day, week, month but it’s a start and you get to EARN your keep. Perhaps the city councelors could find some odd jobs for the less fortunate folks to do as an alternative to standing around bumming money. Fall is coming and there are plenty of leaves to rake!
GOOD!!!! I have helped a couple people a few times in my life. One was a guy downtown who had a sign saying he was a veteran and needed money for rent. A wonderful old man who was as nice as ever. I got a good vibe from him (Which are RARELY wrong) and gave him $10. I don’t give just anyone money. But one day i was passed Walmart, near Chili’s and there were a couple punks near the light and when I stopped, I could hear their conversation. They were just scumbags, scamming people out of money. They were joking about it all while playing on their iPhones. REALLY?! I don’t mind helping someone who NEEDS it but, those punks? Their conversation made me so bitter towards it. Something DOES need to be done, though. Walmart is getting sketchy with all these different people begging for money. There was a guy in Belfast with a sign “Will work for food”- I went to hannaford and got him some food and when I went back he FREAKED out on me and refused to take it. I get that you are too proud to take it for free, but I don’t have any work for you to do in my car and I’m not going to drive you 15mins one way to my house to do work, nor to my house in general. Some of these people are very illogical and temperamental. If you honestly need help and someone offers it, take it. Otherwise, don’t f’n ask!!!
That was nice of you, some of these people can use it, but most do not use it for what they say they do. You had a good vibe.
I will hand a few bucks to a person pushing a shopping cart loaded with returnables in a heart beat. They are not panhandling are are actually trying to make some legitimate money. They are very grateful. You can tell the difference between the truly down and out and the scammers.
If they are collecting bottles then yes , but these people standing on the corner with 200.00 sunglasses. Expensive sneakers(125.99 olympia sports) and to top that all off a dog, come on, these people are just too lazy and do not want to work and are out getting money for cigarettes, booze
I totally agree-help those that make any kind of REAL effort.
If we keep turning down many more economic development possibility’s in this state.We will all be panhandling.
Nothing wrong with helping the needy, but do as CopSmack suggests and donate to a food bank.
Alternatively, if you see someone panhandling, offer to buy them lunch at Subway. A $5 footlong won’t break the bank and you know they can’t turn it in for deposit at Shaw’s.
Your funny, we did that one time and he said no he would rather have the money. Flag hit there, we asked for what he said food he was hungry. Another flag hit. Well he never got amny money
I asked one of them the other day if they wanted to do some odd jobs and he told me to GO F@#$ myself. This should be outlawed
There have been past articles about panhandlers. One article that I found particularly telling about what’s going on was about panhandling outside of a Walmart in some large city. This was a few years ago. The panhandlers were asked why they did what they did instead of going inside and getting a job. Their response was that they made several times as much as the Walmart employees – some were bringing in several hundred dollars a day. Panhandling was a better paying proposition than working.
Woohoo…every blowhard with an opinion shows up for this one!!!
I’m sorry to see ordinances against panhandling. I am at the point where I might have to consider getting into it myself.
You probably remember what Mark Twain and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about panhandlers.
The humble Farmer
I agree . But there needs to be some boundaries set. Not sure what to do.
I do wonder if I’d look cool or insightful if I ended every comment with a little personal tag
The Barefoot Executive.
Naah, just looks self indulgent and self important.
They need to clean up and look neat and apply for damn jobs. I have seen people sitting there holding a sign for money or food and have 2 darn dogs with them. COME ON really. If you go you Stillwater ave. you see a person holding a sign on every single road way entering a store. That is crazy people. Stop giving them money then they gotta go work like the rest of us.
easily beaten by a pair of clubs
How IS the trailer park doing, anyways?
Are they paying taxes on their earnings, and or reporting the extra cash to Social Security?
Yup, undocumented funds. They get to live off the grid, in addition to receiving all of the taxpayer funded benefits.
OK, Who flagged me for review? Probably the trolls / seagulls..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nixR6wVa4HY
pretty much or give me money
I have a job in Bangor where lets say I see these people daily!! They are homeless by choice well atleast the majority of them.. They have food stamp cards and still receive help from the arc, the homeless shelter , manna and other area agencies. They have free phones and free bus passes!! I feel
No sympathy for any of them . They are drinking at 6 am , pass out on the corner of cedar and main right across from the new police station and next door to the homeless shelter or up in one of their party tents near sunbury medical and northeast cardiology.. If you open your eyes and look at your surroundings you will see as I see daily . There are people who have lived over at the arc or whatever it is this week for 20 years ?! How can u have sympathy for someone who has been homeless for 20 yearsy?! Perfect example there was a girl I know last year who had an ok apartment and a scum boyfriend he convinced her they should stop paying their Rent? Get evicted then go to the
Homeless shelter for a few weeks and then get what they call shelter plus care ? Well they went from paying 600 a month to I believe 330?! That’s bull. I have told dhhs that people live in the homeless shelter get 3 meals and still have food stamps they don’t believe me !! What do u think they do with their food stamps? Sell the use for drugs and alchol. Talk about wasting our tax money
Agree on all counts! It’s disgusting. I wouldn’t give any of them a penny out of my pocket.
curb it at the Folk Festivale first
Darn you, city council. Now what am I supposed to do with my “aged, soiled” clothing and cardboard sign that’s been feeding my family for the last two years?
I have some ashes to go spread on Waikiki Beach. I’ll be working the corner of Airport Rd. and Union, if you want to pitch in. I’ll be hard to miss with my Louis Vuitton luggage, and Versace loafers.