Homeless
speak out about plan to remove benches
Eric Wright, posted Oct. 16, 2006
The
bustling Ninth Street business district has become the center
of a controversy in light of a new plan proposed by the Special
Business District Board to eliminate its benches. Shopkeepers
have concerns that the panhandlers, who have become a regular
fixture in the area, are keeping buyers away. While the plan
addresses the environment that has brought in the homeless
occupants, the homeless themselves feel like the back of an
unforgiving system has been turned to them and fail to understand
its logic.
There
is a gentleman who sits everyday across the street from the
Missouri Theatre, but before you see him you’ll probably
hear music playing from the deceptively loud speakers on his
small radio. As the band Earth, Wind and Fire filled the air
the 67-year-old disabled veteran who wished to remain anonymous
for fear of causing more trouble, shared some strong opinions
on the benches issue and why he uses them.
“I
don’t ask anyone for sh**; I’m not like that.
I got money in the bank,” he said “I’m older
and I just like to sit and play my radio, and I ask for respect.”
The weary-eyed
man seemed genuine enough, escaping the confined walls of
his small home to be a part of a community that for the large
part ignores him. As people walked by he would pause mid-sentence
to ask “How are you doing today?” to which people
would respond by continuing to walk. He didn’t ask for
money he was not homeless, but he did share concern for those
who are.
“Moving
these benches aren’t going to stop people from panhandling,
what kind of logic is that? You can’t just move benches
to take care of the homeless.”
These
words seemed spoken for all the guys on the street. Roger
D, is homeless, and admitted to panhandling but not to causing
any trouble.
“I
don’t know what I would do [without the benches] I would
have to figure something out,” he said.
Like the
man with the radio, Roger said he’d been harassed by
shopkeepers, and pointed to one, The Missouri T-Shirt Company.
The Missouri
T-Shirt company declined to be interviewed.
In large
part it seems the benches transcend the issue of obtrusive
panhandling but illustrate the treatment and empathy needed
to fight its root cause. Many of the panhandlers are incapable
of employment and some just don’t want jobs.
Whatever
the case, the idea that the removal of the benches is not
a definite resolution to panhandling seems to be agreed on
by both sides. Lisa Bartlett, owner of the Vintage Shop on
Ninth Street, shared her thoughts about the plan that she
supports.
“I
think it’s a short term solution.” She said “I
think the bigger issue is a social issue and how we get these
guys some help.”
