Loved SLC, but what's with all the beggars? (2015, crime)

[Chango]

Yep. I'm downtown almost everyday walking to/from work and beggars hit me up almost everyday. Every one of them gets as polite a "no" as I can muster... it's not like I have anything to spare anyway.

It's just one of those things and isn't worth getting bent out of shape over. The way I figure it, anyone who feels the need to ask me (of all people! ) for money is worse off than me in one way or another. I don't need to make it any worse for them by being nasty or using the "official" Utah strategy: ignoring them.

[UTES]

My wife and I travel a lot and can attest that beggars are rampant everywhere - from Waikiki to LA and NYC. It's definitely a modern trend. Some cities just have it more than others. I experience it more n Las Vegas than I do anywhere else.

Bill

[kletter1mann]

Originally Posted by UTES

My wife and I travel a lot and can attest that beggars are rampant everywhere - from Waikiki to LA and NYC. It's definitely a modern trend. Some cities just have it more than others. I experience it more n Las Vegas than I do anywhere else.

Bill

Agree about las Vegas, it's incredible. Seems more of a western thing to me, at least there's far far less in northeast. Out here you just don't see those guys with signs at the end of the highway ramps, intersections, etc. they used to be there, but they were shut down years ago. A few weeks ago there was a panhandler working the people going in/out of a brewpub in downtowm SLC. Young kid. My buddy told him to 'get a f***ing job!" and he left. That just isn't tolerated here the way it seems to be in the west.

[Wata-Z]

Out of all the cities in the United States I've been to, I can honestly say the worst I've seen was in downtown San Jose...So many people priced out of any sort of housing, along with "The Jungle" being raided. SLC doesn't even compare to places like this.

[lookintomove15]

Salt Lake police take new approach to panhandling


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJLgjwhFqFs

[Katzpur]

I am not convinced that 100% of the beggars you see in downtown Salt Lake City are scam artists, but enough of them are that I am pretty careful about doling out cash to people on the streets. Since I am, by nature, kind of trusting and not always a good judge of character, I've worked out a tactic for dealing with these people that, as much of a cop-out as it may be, nevertheless works for me. I go downtown about once a week during the summer months and maybe once a month or so during the rest of the year. As soon as I get out of my car or off public transit, I get out my cell phone and pretend to be involved in a conversation. I can seen panhandlers coming my way, but appear to be so involved with my own business that they simply don't bother even approaching me. If you aren't doing something like talking on the phone, and just try to avoid eye-contact, it doesn't work. They still manage to be so in-your-face that you can't avoid them. For people who have no trouble turning down their requests, the cell phone ploy is unnecessary. But for softies like me, it has proven very effective. I don't have to look like I'm selfish or judgmental, but I'm not out any money either.

[kletter1mann]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

I am not convinced that 100% of the beggars you see in downtown Salt Lake City are scam artists, but enough of them are that I am pretty careful about doling out cash to people on the streets. Since I am, by nature, kind of trusting and not always a good judge of character, I've worked out a tactic for dealing with these people that, as much of a cop-out as it may be, >>>>>snip<<<<<

The fact that you have a tactic worked out at all suggests that the issue is pretty pervasive. :-~

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by kletter1mann

The fact that you have a tactic worked out at all suggests that the issue is pretty pervasive. :-~

It is. It's almost impossible to go downtown without getting hit up at least once.

[kletter1mann]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

It is. It's almost impossible to go downtown without getting hit up at least once.

We once had a serious mouse problem. They were getting into bird seed containers. After getting rid of the bird seed and bird feeders they went elsewhere because there wasn't anything to sustain them anymore. The good people of SLC could easily solve the problem in a similar fashion. Sounds like you're doing your part.

[sbartek1974]

Here in Houston Texas the panhandlers will come up to your car while you're sitting at a red light and knock on your car window. Or they will stand there close to your vehicle and just stare at you holding up their signs. And I mean stand there up against your car.