Panhandlers

Those who agonize over giving when approached by Baltimore's panhandlers have a new choice -- give a coupon instead of cash.The Helping Up Mission, a shelter and ministry at 1029 E. Baltimore St., has distributed hundreds of vouchers to people who may be panhandled.The vouchers entitle bearers to a night's stay and two meals at the 109-year-old mission just east of downtown.First distributed to conventioneers earlier this month, the vouchers are now available in coupon books from the mission.

Hey, panhandlers -- tired of people who refuse to make eye contact and don't give you any money? The "Polite Panhandler Kit" may be able to help.City Advocates in Solidarity with the Homeless [CASH] plans to distribute the kits tonight outside Oriole Park at Camden Yards, as the All-Star weekend gets under way and the Orioles take on the Chicago White Sox.The kit is for panhandlers, but the group also will distribute "Tips for the Panhandled," who may have more in common with their solicitors than they realize, said Lauren Siegel of CASH.

A bill targeting aggressive panhandling that has failed to get the endorsement of one city-appointed group will be up for its second public hearing in a week as the Annapolis city council opens the proposal to public discussion Monday night. The 15-member Human Relations Commission, which holds hearings on issues relating to human relations, discrimination and the treatment of residents and reports to the mayor and city council, decided Monday night not to support the bill. After hearing more than an hour of public testimony, the commission said it would not endorse the bill, but suggested alternatives.

A voucher program for panhandlers and the homeless is among recommendations for improving safety in downtown Baltimore, presented in a report today.The document surveys the major safety concerns of business and civic leaders looking to improve the image of the city's central business district. It also focuses on such issues as secure parking facilities, improved lighting, better police patrols and expanded community watch programs.The 18-page report, which was presented today to Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke, also recommends a system for reporting aggressive panhandlers to police.

The Schmoke administration is moving to keep Baltimore residents and visitors from being harassed by panhandlers.Under legislation to be introduced at Monday's City Council meeting, panhandlers would be prohibited from harassing or intimidating those who they ask for money.The bill to curb "aggressive panhandling" would prohibit panhandlers from using obscene or abusive language, blocking the path of a person or a car, or continuously asking for money after having been refused.The proposed measure also outlaws panhandling of any sort at bus, subway or light rail stops or in the vehicles themselves, and bans asking for money in exchange for washing car windows -- the activities of the so-called "squeegee kids."

A proposed ordinance designed to stop aggressive panhandlers along Inner West Street has rallied business owners and homeless advocates to come up with an alternative solution. Jim Martin, a West Street business owner, and Larry Griffin, president of We Care and Friends, an organization that helps the homeless and substance abusers, are producing brochures and signs to help educate people on how to deal with panhandlers as the Annapolis city council continues to discuss the ordinance. "This is a learning experience for the town," Martin said at the council's public hearing session Monday.

Baltimore Councilman Anthony J. Ambridge was hurrying up Charles Street the other day when a panhandler stopped him and demanded a quarter to buy a bowl of soup.Instead of reaching into his pocket, the 2nd District Democrat offered to treat the man to lunch at a nearby deli. His gesture, Mr. Ambridge said, was rudely refused. The panhandler muttered curses at him and ambled off to find another benefactor.It was the type of encounter that the Schmoke administration wants to prevent under a bill to curb "aggressive panhandling."

Baltimore business leaders' proposals for improving public safety downtown that include a voucher system for panhandlers and jobs for the homeless were applauded yesterday by some advocates for the poor.Several advocates said they were pleased by the business community's attempts to balance the needs of the poor and homeless with their attempts to improve downtown's image.At the same time, some advocates expressed caution and said they would like to see how the business community implements its recommendations before passing final judgment.

Rick Mosley, 20 months sober, returns every day to the nadir of his life, to the downtown streets where he once spent his time cadging spare change for bottles of cheap wine. Now he visits the panhandlers he left behind, offering them information about drug and alcohol treatment, tips on social services, sometimes just blankets and sandwiches.The one thing he won't give them is change."They still ask me," he said with a grin. "Even though they know me, they still ask."But Mr. Mosley, an inept panhandler in his day, believes that the quarters and dollars pressed on panhandlers add up to a bad deal for everyone.

Hoping to put a stop to panhandling and to beautify one of the Baltimore area's busiest intersections, the State Highway Administration plans to landscape the median strip of Baltimore National Pike at Rolling Road, part of $300,000 in improvements to the commercial corridor through Catonsville."