Wasn't one of these intersection panhandlers killed a few weeks ago here? I seem to remember something in the news about it a while back.
That was at Macleod and Southland Drive. I saw a guy out there the next morning who came close to getting hit too.
The simple solution is to get people to stop giving them money. The hard (but ultimate) solution is dealing with the homeless situation that isn't going to go away any time soon. Most of these guys seem able-bodied so they can work. You guys joke about making them join the military but some kind of public service might be a good idea.
Taking your attention from the road to your wallet etc. Could be construed as distracted driving could it not? Start handing out tickets based on that and highly publicize the campaign. As mentioned by other posters if we cut off the money source the panhandlers don5 have a reason to stay.
I really like this idea. We're not allowed to fiddle with our phones at stop lights, but I'm allowed to go into my center console, grab out my change ashtray and pick out some coins? That's about the same amount of time as reading a text.
I almost hit one of those clowns at low speed once, when he seemingly got confused as to whether he wanted to go to the median or the curb and 180'd right in front of me. Ans as mentioned already, one of them got killed at Southland and Mcleod a few weeks ago. How'd you like to live with that the rest of your life, remembering the face as it bounced off your windshield.
Dashcam footage should be enough to have a fine mailed to people handing things out their windows, encouraging people to wander around busy intersections.
That was at Macleod and Southland Drive. I saw a guy out there the next morning who came close to getting hit too.
The simple solution is to get people to stop giving them money. The hard (but ultimate) solution is dealing with the homeless situation that isn't going to go away any time soon. Most of these guys seem able-bodied so they can work. You guys joke about making them join the military but some kind of public service might be a good idea.
I think it's naive to assume that because they look able bodied that they could work. They're up against so many barriers. Poor work history, addiction, no access to Internet, no clue to do a resume/cover letter, perception from employers...etc. The list goes on. Poverty and homelessness and addiction are terrible cycles that are so hard to break.
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I think it's naive to assume that because they look able bodied that they could work. They're up against so many barriers. Poor work history, addiction, no access to Internet, no clue to do a resume/cover letter, perception from employers...etc. The list goes on. Poverty and homelessness and addiction are terrible cycles that are so hard to break.
I know all of this all too well. That's why I suggested public service. Basic job training and addiction counselling while they work could get them back into the working world. It won't help the worst off but I see a lot of young guys out there, some of them even in PPE, who could use a hand.
Distracted driving kills. I'm all for doing whatever it takes to stop it.
I’m not entirely sure it’s the ones reading a text while in line at a stop light that are the killers though.
Also, I’d be pretty okay with a small increase in taxes to create programs where these kind of folks would be paid to pick up roadside trash, or sweep up public areas or that kind of thing.
I would almost hazard to guess though that some of these guys make well over minimum wage at certain intersections, and would maybe be unlikely to work a full day for less?
So I'm at the lights at 16th ave and 68 st, light turns green I go with the rest of the traffic when out of the blue a guy comes out of nowhere and the pickup in front of me bumps him, jams on his brakes and I come within a foot of rear ending the truck. this is friken hwy #1 with 3 lanes and this guys was in the middle lane, there's no way it can be legal to panhandle like this can it?
I drive through that interaction at least once a day and it is getting out of control. The one nice thing is the really aggressive window washer is finally gone.
Also, I’d be pretty okay with a small increase in taxes to create programs where these kind of folks would be paid to pick up roadside trash, or sweep up public areas or that kind of thing.
I would almost hazard to guess though that some of these guys make well over minimum wage at certain intersections, and would maybe be unlikely to work a full day for less?
I'm pretty sure it's a case of not being able to hold a job of any kind, even a relatively simple job of picking up trash or sweeping. We should probably be happy that we have a relatively strong mental health system and there are far more people receiving help than are panhandling. And hopefully those that are panhandling get some help.
There are better ways to help the poor then giving them handouts at a busy intersection and impeding traffic. There is also a rise in traffic accidents and road rage incidents due to people begging at busy intersections. It is becoming a serious issue.
I thought that was going to a piece about how horrible life is for mentally ill and addicted homeless people is. But it was a piece on how horrible it is for people to have to be around them, with compassionate, sad music playing in the background to boot.
The best was the one upholstery guy's comment on his disgust with homeless people that they used as a "powerful" soundbite. "Yes, they're human, but I'm human, too".
...The hard (but ultimate) solution is dealing with the homeless situation that isn't going to go away any time soon. Most of these guys seem able-bodied so they can work. ...
There are solutions, but all of them involve some degree of forceful treatment/confinement, which no politician will ever have the guts to implement.
I have been volunteering twice a year at Feed-the-Hungry for the past ten years. The program serves dinner to approximately 500 to 700 homeless people every Sunday. Normally, I do a "host" station at the entrance, responsible for taking people to their tables. I can tell you, a few look just like normal people down on their luck. But most of them don't look like they could be rehabilitated at all, ever. More than half of the people coming in are either drunk or intoxicated. About half are aboriginal people. They eat, go across the street to the Rouleau Park and do drugs right there after a meal. Police stops once or twice and asks them to leave; I've never seen anyone arrested though. How/where do they get the money for booze and drugs? Selling sex – I doubt it; who would pay to have sex with them??? Many of them have cell phones. How do they pay the bills? Is panhandling pay to do all of that?
There are some really well-meant Calgary initiatives to end homelessness, like Resolve Campaign building apartments for people in transition. But it will only help those who want to be helped and get back on their feet (that small portion that does look normal). How do you deal with that drug-addicted majority without the use of some force? Impossible.
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There are better ways to help the poor then giving them handouts at a busy intersection and impeding traffic. There is also a rise in traffic accidents and road rage incidents due to people begging at busy intersections. It is becoming a serious issue.
Where did you hear this? You're a cop, so I guess you have access to stats, but it's definitely nothing I've heard of.
Do you mean like drivers are raging at panhandlers? Isn't a road rage incident where either a person gets out of their vehicle and confronts someone or dangerous moves are made with the vehicle due to driver to driver argument?
I'd like to see the stats you have on this, cause beyond frustration I can't see there being a significant rise of people actually engaging in "road rage" incidents over it. And haven't these intersection panhandlers been around forever?
The amount of “panhandlers” at intersections I’ve seen recently, with nearly identical tactics, there is a 0% change this isn’t a organized business of some kind. You can even see “shift change” from time to time.
