I have a hard time refusing a panhandler, but I dunno what's the right thing to do. The local police chief says most people who panhandle come here from out of town, and they're not "our" homeless people. And from what I hear from the local homeless community, that's the truth. The police chief got the volunteer organizations in town to support his anti-panhandling campaign. The head of the local homeless shelter says she can make our money go a lot farther than it will go if we give it to panhandlers.
But still, I don't like turning them down.

A couple of times in the last two weeks, people have come up to me and asked to use my phone. I let them, but then it seemed they talked forever while I waited to get my phone back. I may not do that again.


-Joe-