[Willy702]

Not here to start class warfare and I recognize there are people struggling for whatever reason these days. But I'm spending a few weeks in town to get a project done and I just took my first day out to do some errands and the endless begging, pleas for money and rude comments are just startling to me.

Two different people aggressively panhanded me at Smith's in the parking lot (way down on S Rainbow, not a rough area). Then inside a woman with four kids had a basket full of stuff and was begging me to pay for it all. I told her no and she and two of her kids followed me around, she saying her kids are hungry. Eventually they moved on and then in self checkout a lady was tackled by security for threatening an employee because she said the machine was cheating her and knew she didn't have enough cash to pay.

Then I went to Habit for lunch and didn't feel like tipping and the cashier gave me a speech about how they appreciate generous customers. Felt like a total shakedown. To top it off, stopped for gas and wouldn't you know it a lady asks me for 12 bucks for gas. What happened to asking for a dollar?

Was it just a bad day or are things really heading downhill around here?

[blameyourself]

Eh, I've dealt with homelessness for years much worse than anything Vegas has to offer. How do I "put up" with it? I typically have compassion and empathy for people in that situation. I don't look at it as some major inconvenience that someone asks me for money. I understand how fortunate I am and don't look down upon people that are less fortunate than me. That's how I deal with it.

Exactly what would like to be done about it?

P.S. I'm not sure how far someone would get on one dollar of gas.

[recycled]

Las Vegas is not the most representative barometer of how often one encounters a panhandler or other broke desperate person. It is a city with one of the highest "transient" populations, and one of the lowest percentage of native born locals anywhere in the USA. And no doubt many retail wage workers especially food service hit up customers for tips even though it is not a traditional full service restaurant. A big percentage of the Las Vegas population is dependent on tip related income so almost everyone wants their share.

Can't say I am shocked to read what the OP encountered in just one day in LV, but I suppose it varies from one part of town to another. In contrast, I'm a newbie to living in SW Ohio and haven't seen hardly a homeless person since I got here, no panhandlers and nobody has hit me up for a tip for ordering prepared food at the counter and picking up the food at the counter - I generally tip when I go to a sit down restaurant.

[blameyourself]

Originally Posted by recycled

Las Vegas is not the most representative barometer of how often one encounters a panhandler or other broke desperate person. It is a city with one of the highest "transient" populations, and one of the lowest percentage of native born locals anywhere in the USA. And no doubt many retail wage workers especially food service hit up customers for tips even though it is not a traditional full service restaurant. A big percentage of the Las Vegas population is dependent on tip related income so almost everyone wants their share.

Can't say I am shocked to read what the OP encountered in just one day in LV, but I suppose it varies from one part of town to another. In contrast, I'm a newbie to living in SW Ohio and haven't seen hardly a homeless person since I got here, no panhandlers and nobody has hit me up for a tip for ordering prepared food at the counter and picking up the food at the counter - I generally tip when I go to a sit down restaurant.

Actually I am. I lived is San Francisco for 50 years, which has a considerably worse homeless problem, and never experienced anything remotely close to that.

I also tip at restaurants and usually give 20%. They'd have to really **** me off for them to get nothing.

[Wartrace]

Originally Posted by Willy702

Then I went to Habit for lunch and didn't feel like tipping and the cashier gave me a speech about how they appreciate generous customers. Felt like a total shakedown.

I agree with you regarding tipping and it is a shakedown. I looked up "Habit" burger joints and it appears they are just like any other fast food joint. Since when do these workers expect a tip? Do they deserve a tip? They take your order and put it in a bag for you.

Most waitstaff at restaurants that SHOULD be tipped make like 2-3 dollars per hour.

[mlulu23]

Originally Posted by blameyourself

Eh, I've dealt with homelessness for years much worse than anything Vegas has to offer. How do I "put up" with it? I typically have compassion and empathy for people in that situation. I don't look at it as some major inconvenience that someone asks me for money. I understand how fortunate I am and don't look down upon people that are less fortunate than me. That's how I deal with it.

Exactly what would like to be done about it?

P.S. I'm not sure how far someone would get on one dollar of gas.

Yeah, but how much of what the OP mentioned is a result from a real need, and how much is just a scam? But that is a lot of people to run into in a short time.

One issue that did come up over 1 yr ago is that the food stamp program, SNAP, increased their benefits while covid was a thing. But then they took all of that away after folks got used to it lowering it to almost nothing. One article said that a family of 4 lost aprox $400 a month towards food when it was taken away. That was a real disaster for many. As a low income senior I lost about $100 down to around $24 a month. It has since righted itself for me though thankfully.

[blameyourself]

Originally Posted by mlulu23

Yeah, but how much of what the OP mentioned is a result from a real need, and how much is just a scam? But that is a lot of people to run into in a short time.

One issue that did come up over 1 yr ago is that the food stamp program, SNAP, increased their benefits while covid was a thing. But then they took all of that away after folks got used to it lowering it to almost nothing. One article said that a family of 4 lost aprox $400 a month towards food when it was taken away. That was a real disaster for many. As a low income senior I lost about $100 down to around $24 a month. It has since righted itself for me though thankfully.

Who knows how much of it is a scam? It's a convenient comment that doesn't apply to the majority. Homelessness is a problem all over the country (Vegas barely ranks in the top 20). But in the grand scheme of things, there are much bigger problems than someone asking for a handout. Don't want to help someone...just say no and go about your day. Glad to hear your situation righted itself.

[Zenstyle]

"Then I went to Habit for lunch and didn't feel like tipping..."
You reveal yourself with such a statement.

[steiconi]

Originally Posted by Zenstyle

"Then I went to Habit for lunch and didn't feel like tipping..."
You reveal yourself with such a statement.

Apparently, Habit is a fast food joint. Would you judge the same if they didn't tip at McDonald's?

[Oklazona Bound]

Originally Posted by blameyourself

Eh, I've dealt with homelessness for years much worse than anything Vegas has to offer. How do I "put up" with it? I typically have compassion and empathy for people in that situation. I don't look at it as some major inconvenience that someone asks me for money. I understand how fortunate I am and don't look down upon people that are less fortunate than me. That's how I deal with it.

The word fortunate. I don't think fortune or luck has anything or at least not much to do with people who are hassling customers to pay for their groceries. Bad decisions in life, yes. I would imagine if you look at the woman's life and what she spends money on you will find the root of the problem. Its like saying someone is down on their luck. Like the only way you can put food on the table is to be lucky. Nope not how things work.