Posted on 07/13/2007 10:26:59 AM PDT by SubGeniusX
He's picking up 80 bags of trash a day in return for donations
TORONTO (Sun Media) - Marc the Litter Guy needed money to pay the rent but he didn't want to panhandle.
So the 30-year-old got some garbage bags and put a sign on his back saying he was cleaning the city for donations.
"I needed to make my own job, so I thought I'd go around and clean the streets. I wear a sign -- it tells what I'm doing and asks for donations -- but I don't ask for money verbally, I leave it up to people," said Marc, who has been picking up about 80 bags of garbage a day for the past 11 months.
Marc was struggling to get work as a day labourer and was tired of lining up at 4:30 a.m every day looking for a job that wasn't there.
"I can have crappy days where I don't make minimum wage, but some days I can make $10 an hour," he said.
Marc has some specific areas where he works, and it's not uncommon for businesses to donate garbage bags and give him a few bucks to clean up their areas.
Marc is talking to faculty at the University of Toronto about starting a pilot project, where panhandlers could meet at the university and then disperse with garbage bags to different locales.
"I just think this is a viable option for panhandlers and it is good for the city," he said.
It is commonplace for many panhandlers to stake out the same corner every day to beg for money.
"I think this guy has a great idea," said Robin MacDonald, a customer at Starbucks on King St. E.
"Here you have a guy who doesn't bother people and he gives back. I wouldn't mind giving my change to him."
In response to complaints about panhandlers, the city is looking into whether downtown beggars who are not homeless need help in making use of social programs.
The executive committee has met with restaurant and other business owners who are frustrated with panhandlers on downtown streets.
The committee unanimously voted to launch a pilot project -- from July 3 to Sept. 17 -- which will include meetings between senior officials and businesses to find ways of addressing the panhandling problem.
Walk from Glace Bay to Sydney, you could fill a dump truck.
Usually, people skip the article, and read only th headline. Of course, somebody HAS to buck the system.
Carolyn
“How long before the IRS inquires into his earnings?”
Or the city employee union....
He’s a good guy to do this, he’s out working instead of complaining about things..
Why would the IRS even care? Revenue Canada on the other hand...
I have a friend who is homeless. He’s a machiniest who lost his job. (near Detroit, what a surprise!)
He rides his bike wherever he goes, stays clean, is sober and lives in a little plywood “cabin.” I don’t know him real well, but he doesn’t seem to have any of the pathologies that most bums have.
He seems pretty smart, spend a lot of time listening to conservative talk radio. I’ve never been able to find out how he supports himself for food etc. or how he takes showers and cleans his clothes. however, every time I’ve seen him, he’s clean and well dressed.
I have to give him plenty of credit. he’s living the dream. Off the grid, few bills etc.
You have to give Litter Man a lot of credit too. He’s doing somethng with all his spare time and making a little money in the process.
You know, there used to be common words to describe the different kinds of homeless people. Most are “bums”, people who do nothing productive, and beg to support themselves. Others are “hobos”, who try to find odd tasks that they can perform, to earn the money, food, and other considerations they might receive from others.
When movie and TV studios use Toronto as a cheaper location than New York for filming, but want to maintain NYC as the setting, they actually put garbage on the streets as props! This guy must really be working to find trash!
There's the problem with this kind of thing becoming widespread, it's illegal. If we didn't have the damned Social Security system, and all government revenue came from fair (consumption) taxes, there would be nothing wrong with this.
Oops, I missed the fact that this was in Canada. :-(
thats fine, but he seems to have proven his inability to hold a steady job or any sort of “normal” life. he is much more likely than you are to spend money on booze or drugs. but like you said, he does kinda work for it.
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Rumierules: "Nothing in the article indicates that he is homeless."
Correct.
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thefactor: "at least he doesnt pay rent!"
RTFA...
Well..No.
The Ontario government has announced it is investing $4.3 million to improve the appearance of the province's busiest highways. Over the next several weeks, maintenance contractors will cut grass and pick up litter along highways, including the 401, 417 and Queen Elizabeth Way.
The investment comes in addition to programs already in place, including the Adopt-A-Highway program, with 583 volunteer groups caring for 2,565 km of highway, including litter pick-up, tree and wildflower planting; Operation Springboard, with low-risk offenders picking up litter on provincial highways;
I really, really, really have a problem with the homeless. The majority of them either have mental health issues or feel like society owes it to them. I usually respond, “Why do you feel like you are entitled to any of the money that I work 40+ hours a week for?” when they approach me, and that usually gets it across that I have distain for those who do not work and are able to do so.
HOWEVER. This is the first time I’ve thought, “Gee, maybe I’d give that guy a couple bucks.”
Wait a minute.... Is this from The Onion?
“Marc is talking to faculty at the University of Toronto about starting a pilot project, where panhandlers could meet at the university and then disperse with garbage bags to different locales. “
The first meeting: “OK everyone, make sure you through all your garbage on the ground. Job security, you know.”
You do! I was once approached by a strapping young fellow who wanted money because he was down to his last cigarette. He was smoking it at the time.
The last time was in fast food joint parking lot. The guy wanted two dollars , he specifically asked for 2 dollars , for breakfast . I told him to get a job. He called me an assh!!!. So I was. I bought my food and ate it in front of him...:)
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