Po-Po Vs. Panhandlers

Boston panhandlers proudly uphold the city's reputation for being as direct as possible--sometimes too direct and so direct that it merits a trip to jail. The Globe did a story on how the police have been dispersing the panhandlers and "squeegee men" at Mass Ave and Melnea Cass.

But do they really have to take their squeegee supplies? The BPD took the stuff one guy used, along with a backpack and clothes, which seems to be a sure way to turn him into an even more aggressive panhandler. The poor guy told a Globe reporter that wound up in jail for 60 days because he had no one to pay his bail.

One woman interviewed for the story made the good point that at least she's not hooking. If that were the case, we'd be more likely to see her as part of an Operation Squeeze roundup than in the panhandler roundup.

If the food pantries are in trouble and the recession continues while the administration fiddles, then there will only be more panhandlers going where the money is, and the police might be able to scare them off, but they'll keep coming back. How do you react to an aggressive panhandler? Give them money and bolt, or walk past with as expressionless a face as possible?

[Boston Globe]

Image of a not-so-aggressive but creative panhandler that is one of Bostonist's favorites. Photo by sandcastlematt, tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr.