Vagrants And Panhandlers.

[terryh]

Ive noticed a small invasion of pesky panhandlers around the 9 and Woodward area within the last couple of years. I had an annoying encounter last summer as I chained my bike in front of the Record Collector, when a scrawney little drunkard, sittin next to Eddie the loudmouth window washer, got up, ran right up on me, pressing me for a handout. I ignored the vagrant while politely listening to Eddies jive babble,the vagrant taking the hint and sat back down on the sidewalk.I should have whipped out my phone and called the police, as should all the naive bleeding hearts who hand out food and money to these pests that are infesting 9 mile.

One old bum used to stumble into Java Hutt with his Im mentally impaired routine[[its a hustle, trust me,Ive seen his 'true colors')and I know of several instances in which young counter clerks have had their tip jar stolen, or foolishly handed over the proceeds of the nights earnings. Then there was the young buck that was in WAY to good of shape to be panhandling, I warned the managers of a community center to watch him as a I had a bad vibe about, and wouldnt put it past him to strong arm one of the sissies that frequented the center.

There are organizations that can provide food and shelter to the homeless and destitute,so NEVER hand out money to support a druggies drug habit. Ferndale, with its multiculturalists and cumbayah bleeding hearts, is a prime location for drug addicts and chronics who are looking for a quick fix. Ive been down and out because of lifestyle choices, pulled myself back up, and volunteered at a rotating homeless shelter, so I know the ins and outs, the games and the lies. Residents and community groups need to stay vigilant, pass out flyers,and demand agrressive police action and response.Panhandlers often cross the line and commit acts of petty thievery and foray into armed robber and home invasion. If someone asks for money for food, and you have a guilty conscience, buy the person a meal. Dont give them money so as to exacerbate the bum problem!

[detroitbob]

Similar problem at Main and 4th St. in Royal Oak...the condo owners are up in arms over panhandling and overall noise including rooftop patios at restaurants...this extends to the Main and 11 Mile corner but with Royal Oak facing police cutbacks and the Council approving more liquor licenses and permits for street side seating and patios, it will only get worse.

[313WX]

Hey, if Royal Oak and Ferndale [[or Birmingham, Troy, Southfield) want to play big city plus pretend to be the center of Metro Detro...I mean SE Michigan, they have to deal with both the positive and negative aspects that come along with it.

[jams]

Make Busking legal.

At least, we might get some entertainment value from it.

http://www.buskercentral.com/

[bartock]

I was hoping LodgeDodger would have posted the "Sir, please sir" guy into a third thread. I was laughing out loud when he showed up on the critter thread. I'd swap him for every person panhandling at 4th/Main in Royal Oak.

[LodgeDodger]

I was hoping LodgeDodger would have posted the "Sir, please sir" guy into a third thread. I was laughing out loud when he showed up on the critter thread. I'd swap him for every person panhandling at 4th/Main in Royal Oak.

[DetroitPlanner]

Oh GOD not him! Maybe he should find his way toFerndale and leave me alone. Strange I've never seen him there, I've only seen him between the Penobscot and City Hall. And a couple of times at Fort and Washington.

[LodgeDodger]

If you're ever at the Eastern Market on Saturdays, he's there.

[Whaler]

If you're ever at the Eastern Market on Saturdays, he's there.

Man..He sometimes gets pretty aggressive..5 years of this guy

[manualshift]

Oh GOD not him! Maybe he should find his way toFerndale and leave me alone. Strange I've never seen him there, I've only seen him between the Penobscot and City Hall. And a couple of times at Fort and Washington.

Literally the hardest working man in the business.

[bartock]

OK LodgeDodger you've just become my favorite person on this site.

DetroitPlanner, during the week he's in front of the 211 building at Fort/Washington all day. Eastern Market Saturdays.

I propose that "Sir, Sir" show up on any thread that is either bad or run its course. Yes, I'm talking to you, Ford Hiring thread.

[sumas]

Danny, to be honest I don't agree with you often and often I don't know where you are going with your ideology. I don't attack your opinions and respect your right to say what you want.

This is the first time that I agree with you 100% regarding our homeless and vagrants. A picture was posted and now seemingly removed. It showed someone I think I recognize. He was a driver in years past for a wholesale company I worked for in Eastern Market. He needs help not vilification.

[LodgeDodger]

The picture of "Sir, Sir" was removed?

[LodgeDodger]

Danny, to be honest I don't agree with you often and often I don't know where you are going with your ideology. I don't attack your opinions and respect your right to say what you want.

This is the first time that I agree with you 100% regarding our homeless and vagrants. A picture was posted and now seemingly removed. It showed someone I think I recognize. He was a driver in years past for a wholesale company I worked for in Eastern Market. He needs help not vilification.

I'm not sure you're referring to "Sir, Sir" or not, but this is one bum that is a pain-in-my-ass. I'm all for social programs and the like, but for the most part, these guys are scammers. There IS help available for these guys, but they choose not to utilize them. Why? Because pan-handling is what they WANT to do.

These assholes fuck things up for people who are trying to earn a living in this city. They intimidate some of the folks from the suburbs [[I see it all the time). Why come to Detroit when you know you'll be accosted every fucking time you go to the market?

Why do I have to expect to be approached when I leave the library, when I'm leading a tour, or just hanging out trying to chill? I'm trying not to turn this into a tirade, but I'm sick of everyone giving these guys a "pass" because they don't want to accept help.

[DetroitPlanner]

DetroitPlanner, during the week he's in front of the 211 building at Fort/Washington all day. Eastern Market Saturdays.

Strange, I mostly encounter him somewhere between City Hall and the Penobscot. Maybe he has a twin or a clone? I think LD has it nailed. Everytime I see him I am reminded of my trip to Yellowstone and the explaination of why you do not feed the bears.

[bartock]

Strange, I mostly encounter him somewhere between City Hall and the Penobscot. Maybe he has a twin or a clone? I think LD has it nailed. Everytime I see him I am reminded of my trip to Yellowstone and the explaination of why you do not feed the bears.

Between City Hall and Penobscot is where he ends up after motion call on Fridays. It is very possible he hangs around there while I'm working during the day, but at lunch hour it has been every day on that corner [[it seems) since Spring.

That guy has been asking for money for at least 10 yuears. I want to say 12 years, but it is at least 10 years.

Bear and Stasu - if the subject is generalized, I agree. If the subject is the "Sir, Sir" guy, he panhandles by choice. If you ever catch him talking to one of the other panhandlers, it is like hearing a different person speak. His hustle works enough...he's no head case, and he'll tell you that [[that is actually one of his lines).

[sturge]

OK LodgeDodger you've just become my favorite person on this site.

DetroitPlanner, during the week he's in front of the 211 building at Fort/Washington all day. Eastern Market Saturdays.

I propose that "Sir, Sir" show up on any thread that is either bad or run its course. Yes, I'm talking to you, Ford Hiring thread.

LOL I know that guy all too well. He's always hitting up everyone for money at the bus stops downtown.

[professorscott]

He hit me up for money once when I was waiting for a bus at the City County building and I told him I didn't have any cash. Five minutes later he asked me again, and I said, "you asked me five minutes ago; I didn't have any cash then and I don't now." He said, "Hey, sorry, I can't memorize all my customers."

I just love that he referred to me as a customer. Interesting viewpoint.

Guy could go into sales, sell refrigerators to Eskimos, if he wanted to do it.

[Alley]

this guy scrambles past so fast, sometimes I don't even get the chance to tell him no!

[TiCub]

This may be off the thread, but does anyone know what happened to the guy who slept/hung around Tiger Stadium for years. He never bothered anyone and his base was the triangular building on Cochrane & Michigan. At times he walked down the street all hunched and stooped over. I heard there was a hopeless man beat up in that area, and I hope it wasn't this harmless soul.

[Alley]

This may be off the thread, but does anyone know what happened to the guy who slept/hung around Tiger Stadium for years. He never bothered anyone and his base was the triangular building on Cochrane & Michigan. At times he walked down the street all hunched and stooped over. I heard there was a hopeless man beat up in that area, and I hope it wasn't this harmless soul.

I haven't seen him in at least 3 years, but when we lived in Corktown he was always on that stoop. We would buy him snacks from the gas station across the street and gave him blankets one winter. I wonder about him whenever I'm in the area.

[jams]

What? Just keep a coney dog handy, he'll go away.

[DetroitDad]

They are bad in construction traffic now, one every few feet, it's like they compete, dance, and the younger ones use home made dry erase boards too [[cardboard wrapped in plastic wrap).

Nothing beats when they walk up on your car at the Burger King Drive Threw near the post office. Man I hate getting stuck in that drive threw line, it's one of those ones where you can't just drive off if your uncomfortable, or frustrated.

That reminds me; The Tim Horton's on Plymouth and Farmington Road keeps going after panhandlers because they use the bathroom and snatch the sink and toilet fixtures. The panhandlers walk all the way from the new Super Walmart.

That Walmart reminds me of the Meijer that tries to look like a fake Downtown, down the street, and all over Metro Detroit now.

Which reminds me, I got panhandled by a kid Downtown while walking with my daughter. He couldn't have been more than eight, but was probably younger, I'm bad at guessing ages. If I was a busker, I could never be an age guesser, I would always be wrong and thus broke. Anyway, I'm really not sure what to do in that situation. Even Downtown, I have never seen young children panhandling before this Summer.

[LodgeDodger]

They are bad in construction traffic now, one every few feet, it's like they compete, dance, and the younger ones use home made dry erase boards too [[cardboard wrapped in plastic wrap).

Nothing beats when they walk up on your car at the Burger King Drive Threw near the post office. Man I hate getting stuck in that drive threw line, it's one of those ones where you can't just drive off if your uncomfortable, or frustrated.

That reminds me; The Tim Horton's on Plymouth and Farmington Road keeps going after panhandlers because they use the bathroom and snatch the sink and toilet fixtures. The panhandlers walk all the way from the new Super Walmart.

That Walmart reminds me of the Meijer that tries to look like a fake Downtown, down the street, and all over Metro Detroit now.

Which reminds me, I got panhandled by a kid Downtown while walking with my daughter. He couldn't have been more than eight, but was probably younger, I'm bad at guessing ages. If I was a busker, I could never be an age guesser, I would always be wrong and thus broke. Anyway, I'm really not sure what to do in that situation. Even Downtown, I have never seen young children panhandling before this Summer.

Just snarl at 'em the way I do. Generally, it works. Unless you're dealing with Sir, Sir.

[DetroitDad]

Just snarl at 'em the way I do. Generally, it works. Unless you're dealing with Sir, Sir.

I need to look up your story with that one, LodgeDodger...