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Homeless/begger situation where you are?

Duck Rodgers

Duck Rodgers

Well-Known Member
Just curious. It's noticeably worse here than just 2 or 3 years ago. They all over the place now. I was talking to somebody that lives in San Diego too today and he told me that the police crack down pretty hard there because they had massive encampments forming downtown that they couldn't control, so now a bunch of white and black Americans(probably Hispanic-Americans too, but they blend in better in Mexico obviously) hop the border and are roaching it on the streets of Tijuana; so San Diego looks about same the same homeless wise but if you included all of those border hoppers it would be 2 or 3 times as bad. Is this just getting worse all over now?
 
Duck Rodgers said:
Just curious. It's noticeably worse here than just 2 or 3 years ago. They all over the place now. I was talking to somebody that lives in San Diego too today and he told me that the police crack down pretty hard there because they had massive encampments forming downtown that they couldn't control, so now a bunch of white and black Americans(probably Hispanic-Americans too, but they blend in better in Mexico obviously) hop the border and are roaching it on the streets of Tijuana. Is this just getting worse all over now?
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AF, Lehi has seen a large influx of beggars in the last month or two. Its like I'm living in a South Park episode.
 
It's getting obnoxious downtown. I've had hobos ask for change right at the counter where you get your food at Wendys. So you just got a handfull of change and he asks "Hey man can I have your change?". I've also had guys come up and knock on my window at drive up or red lights. LEAVE ME ALONE!
 
The freeway off ramps all the sudden have people working shifts at each exit. It started last year.

It's really weird because it's obvious they didn't just wonder up and decide to beg at that spot. There's never double coverage and if there's someone at one exit there's someone at the other exits. It's not always the same people at the exit by me, but there are some regulars. Again, never double coverage.

I wonder who runs this racket?
 
Gameface said:
The freeway off ramps all the sudden have people working shifts at each exit. It started last year.

It's really weird because it's obvious they didn't just wonder up and decide to beg at that spot. There's never double coverage and if there's someone at one exit there's someone at the other exits. It's not always the same people at the exit by me, but there are some regulars. Again, never double coverage.

I wonder who runs this racket?
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I've seen this. The guy on 4th South waves to cars like he is the mayor's wife welcoming you downtown.
 
Duck Rodgers said:
Just curious. It's noticeably worse here than just 2 or 3 years ago. They all over the place now. I was talking to somebody that lives in San Diego too today and he told me that the police crack down pretty hard there because they had massive encampments forming downtown that they couldn't control, so now a bunch of white and black Americans(probably Hispanic-Americans too, but they blend in better in Mexico obviously) hop the border and are roaching it on the streets of Tijuana; so San Diego looks about same the same homeless wise but if you included all of those border hoppers it would be 2 or 3 times as bad. Is this just getting worse all over now?
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We've pretty much never had beggars in the UTC outside the occasional Walmart college kid looking to get some truck fair back home. Then they invaded last summer and run in obvious packs. They never stay long though.
 
Every time I visit South Africa, pretty much at every place your car can stop, stop light, off ramp, parking lots you'll run into Holmes kids and adults!!!

So my wife and I always buy bags of fruit when we go to the grocery store and hand out apples, bananas, mangos and Leechies to those begging!!!
 
Gameface said:
The freeway off ramps all the sudden have people working shifts at each exit. It started last year.

It's really weird because it's obvious they didn't just wonder up and decide to beg at that spot. There's never double coverage and if there's someone at one exit there's someone at the other exits. It's not always the same people at the exit by me, but there are some regulars. Again, never double coverage.

I wonder who runs this racket?
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One of the more interesting ones to watch here is a kid(he's probably 18 or 19) who used to be sign waver for a furniture store and breakdance in the intersection and really get your attention. But one day, he totally changed his appearance and is holding a sign with a sob story written on it, still breakdancing away. So he either lost the job and really needs the money, or just figured out that it's way more lucrative to beg.

Although, I need to personally stop evaluating homeless/begger legitimacy or not though and just help where I can. I saw a dude the other day sleeping in a crack in downtown , just getting absolutely dumped on with rain who I previously had pegged as a phony and felt so horrible.
 
Have you seen The Watson Family minivan yet? "Bottled Water $1", "Wife died of cancer", "Family of 4 needs help", and my personal favorite is a "families are 4 ever" logo. Now, if this dude is trying to play the Mormon crowd for his needs then he'd visit his bishop and be taken care of, so I don't feel bad at all for considering the guy a liar without any knowledge since he's using that kind of manipulation to scam old ladies, etc.

There was a guy the last two summers (at least) on the East side of Orem at a busy 4 way stop in a family home neighborhood who stood out there every day holding a similar sign about needing money to pay for his wife's cancer and selling $1 bottled water. Always thought it would be an excellent gig, but now The entire Watson family has beaten me to it.
 
The ramps in Layton have regulars. The other day, one guy was taking a break, talking on an iphone while his "wife/girlfriend" took a turn. If the sign said "Please help pay my data plan", I may have kicked in a buck.
 
There's one that patrols the 1300 E exit on I80 with a sign that says "No lies, want beer". At least he's honest.
 
Duck Rodgers said:
One of the more interesting ones to watch here is a kid(he's probably 18 or 19) who used to be sign waver for a furniture store and breakdance in the intersection and really get your attention. But one day, he totally changed his appearance and is holding a sign with a sob story written on it, still breakdancing away. So he either lost the job and really needs the money, or just figured out that it's way more lucrative to beg.

Although, I need to personally stop evaluating homeless/begger legitimacy or not though and just help where I can. I saw a dude the other day sleeping in a crack in downtown , just getting absolutely dumped on with rain who I previously had pegged as a phony and felt so horrible.
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So you're saying you feel like you should just give them some money at the freeway offramp and not wonder if their scam artists or actually homeless people?

I absolutely will never give the people working the off-ramps money. Never. Their working a job and they're not independent contractors, from what I can tell. Please don't encourage them!
 
Gameface said:
So you're saying you feel like you should just give them some money at the freeway offramp and not wonder if their scam artists or actually homeless people?

I absolutely will never give the people working the off-ramps money. Never. Their working a job and they're not independent contractors, from what I can tell. Please don't encourage them!
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Not at all, I'm just saying that shouldn't be the sole determinate of whether I give or not and that it oftentimes is. If I feel like giving, I should give.
If I don't, I shouldn't. It should flow easily like that. But a lot of times I feel like giving, but I don't end up doing it because I go through that whole judgement process. It's almost like I'm saying, "You're not homeless enough for me, bro." and that's just stupid.

As far as the off ramp thing, I'm not a huge fan of letting people lean into your car. You're so vulnerable at that point. I've been punched in the face twice by somebody outside of my car reaching in while I was in traffic situations so I usually stay away from that type of thing anyway.
 
Duck Rodgers said:
Not at all, I'm just saying that shouldn't be the sole determinate of whether I give or not and that it oftentimes is. If I feel like giving, I should give.
If I don't, I shouldn't. It should flow easily like that. But a lot of times I feel like giving, but I don't end up doing it because I go through that whole judgement process. It's almost like I'm saying, "You're not homeless enough for me, bro." and that's just stupid.

As far as the off ramp thing, I'm not a huge fan of letting people lean into your car. You're so vulnerable at that point. I've been punched in the face twice by somebody outside of my car reaching in while I was in traffic situations so I usually stay away from that type of thing anyway.
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Sorry if it sounded like I was telling you what to do. Obviously everyone can decide for themselves if they want to give someone money. I make it real easy on myself, I don't give beggars money. I don't wonder if they deserve it or not, because in my opinion none of them deserve me feeling like I'm superior to them because they need my pocket change. I don't see a positive to handing a person money on the street. It doesn't fix their life in the slightest. It doesn't help them get buy until brighter skies emerge.

That's my take anyway.
 
There's a few in Draper but not on the exits I use (Bangeter). I used to give some when I was younger. I am convinced people can find jobs. It's just a matter of what you are willing to do. Some people would rather beg than wash dishes somewhere. I don't have much pity for beggars. But I do give a lot in fast offerings. I get that people need some help from time to time. But not a fan of a constant stream of handouts to one source.
 
My personal feeling is that there are better ways to "give" than just giving out handouts to the beggars. Maybe it's judgmental on my part, or whatever. I refuse to give money (or anything else for that matter) to people standing around asking for it. There are plenty of other ways for them to get money. I give a decent fast offering and I also make a yearly donation to The Road Home here in SLC.
 
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