Posted on 06/23/2009 12:25:28 PM PDT by SmithL
Two weeks ago, I wrote about efforts to get a 4-year-old panhandler and his mom off the city streets. The column kicked off a spirited debate about our responsibilities to homeless children.
Monday the woman, whose first name is Toni, was sitting on the sidewalk on Market Street with her son, Gavin, with a brown cardboard sign propped up behind them that said "Please help."
But that's the issue. People have helped. Monday I spoke to Anna Samovol, who along with her co-workers in a downtown office gave toys and food to Gavin and bought a new winter coat for Toni.
Last December, Samovol said she took up a collection at work to buy three one-way plane tickets for Toni, Gavin, and Gavin's father to live with relatives in Pennsylvania. A week later, Samovol says she heard from the relatives, saying they had arrived safely.
"And then in April, they're back," Samovol said. "I saw her at the BART station. I was pissed off."
Samovol said Toni told her that her husband didn't go east and that she wanted to return to be with him. We can debate whether that's a good enough reason to come back.
But the simple point is this: A 4-year-old kid is back on the street, panhandling. Does anyone think that's a good idea?
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Funny, I got a different point: Why do liberals still believe in The Noble Savage?
Why on earth does this surprise anybody? There are people who truly are just down on their luck, and then there are lazy users, players on the emotions of others for their own gain and to avoid having to take responsibility for themselves.
Colonel, USAFR
Simple really -- if any of us have a child who is homeless then we should come pick them up and take them homw.
Some people have no shame. This woman gives respectable panhandlers a bad name.
I see them everyday at the Embarcadero Station, saying “stranded.”
How can there be pain and suffering in the flag ship of Liberal cities? Is there at least one Republican councilman they can blame this on?
Notice they did not try to help them get a job, they just threw money at the problem and are puzzled that the problem did not go away.
I have seen news reports that some pan handlers can make hundreds of dollars a day (tax free)
I bet a young mom sitting in the right place with her 4-year old can do that easy.
LOL
Pro begger. Not to be confused with mere amatuer beggers.
Short story
Had a woman that would panhandle at the SAfeway near to where I worked - saw her regularly as I picked up lunch.
Then I one I had to go in very early to deal an outage - stopped by the store to grab some do-nuts for the repair crew. In pulls a two year old Ford F350/6 pax with a massive cap-over camper. IOW - about $100Gs worth of tin and camper. And guess who pops out? Yup - begger lady.
Later that day, as I returned with my sandwich and soda for lunch, I stopped by her street corner ‘station’. Told her - “Hey, I saw a couple of kinds trying to break into your camper”
Got a funny look
“No, really - the Ford F-350 with the cab-over” - pointing to the parking lot.
She was gone like a shot.
Never came back.
Must not have been a pro begger......
“Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?”
Not complicated, really. This low life keeps her 4 year old with her because he generates more cash for her. It got the two of them a vacation in PA didn’t it? But she knows the easy money is in SF so back she trots w/ the sympathy generator in tow.
Notice they did not try to help them get a job, they just threw money at the problem and are puzzled that the problem did not go away.
******** We have a winner ********
Nope.
Schvartzakennedy is still in the GOP...blame it on him
Well, with the price of gas now, you need to beg for money to drive a F350.....
actually, that type of crap is seen all over and pretty sure some of them pull in twice what I make per year.
Quit donating!
They can either support themselves or lie down in the street and die!
Toni should be arrested for child endangerment.
“Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?”
Very impressive! I haven’t seen a good Scrooge reference in a long time!
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