You can become the “Blogging Panhandler” and be the first one to do it in Atlanta.

Is really good to the homeless!

Way to make it a racial thing about “whitebread conservatives applauding?”. Classy

To answer your question. How about the Atlanta Police Department, (which the city happens to be expanding) does it’s job and does something when they see blatant panhandling all day everyday. After all, aren’t police for enforcing laws. I could offer you some other effective solutions, but you and I both know enforcing current laws would curb the issue.

P.S. – At this rate, it will take 20 years to recoup the costs of instaling the ugly yellow meters. Just donate the money and keep the city less cluttered.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/1107/

It’s a feel good thing… sort of like recycling and using doggie diapers, cost more and doesn’t help the environment… but it makes one feel like they’re doing good by their fellow man.

Recycling Myths

Facts and logic just brings me down, man.

I’m in the wrong business. Where’s me a box I can make a sign out of?

One of the goals of the program is to get resources and services to the homeless and to dry up the revenue for panhandlers and scam artists.

Man! You is one funny mo’ fo’, Icarus. Neither Dems nor Repubs give a sheet about “ROI” when they are spending someone else’s money.

Would we not have been better off giving the money to a real homeless support program, or to some anti-panhandling enforcement?

There’s not much I can do about making the Gold Dome flame retardant, but if you have an issue you want addressed, drop it in the tipline.

Better yet, write up the post, and I’ll post it.

O.K., without getting into whether this is Shirley or CAP’s boondoggle, Denver has far more meters that have raised $15K over two years.

Atlanta has spent $40K on the meters it has so far (6?).

How much of a negative return on investment do you have to have before you can call something a failure, whether it is a government failure, or a well meaning business/civic venture?

There is no such thing as “reverse racism.” There is just racism.

And I’m pretty sure Shirley Franklin was involved with APD and City Solicitor cutbacks. And I think she might have some slight influence over the City Court of Atlanta. Wow, maybe she IS part of the problem, after all!

Meanwhile, PP front page posters ignore to address some pretty important legislative issues as the Gold Dome burns.

First, there is the completely inacurate title that proports that the expansion of the program is the Mayor’s idea. Nothing in the attached article mentions the mayor. In fact, it is the downtown business community that is recommending expanding the program. If you’ve had any exposure to powers that be in Central Atlanta Progress you might know that they consider themselves to be practical, conservative capitalists. These are successful people in the private sector considering the options, making these recommendations and raising the money from their businesses to install these meters.

Second, the article mentions that Denver raised $15,000 in coins since 2007 using 84 meters. Atlanta has 12 meters, and the singage has not been properly installed. The BS post from Rouge doesn’t provide any comparative perspective, but simply says it will take a miracle.

Third, the BS post from Rouge blames the police, solicter and municipal judges for lax enforcement and fails to metion the over 200 arrests. In a major metropolitan area with a criminal justice system that is stretched already, how many resources do you want to throw at beggars? The business most affected by begging have started this program and if it works it will benefit them the most. At the same time it relieves the burden on the police, courts and jail, so that limited criminal justice resources can be prioritized and not wasted on minor offenses. The implied “solution” from the BS post is to arrest everyone and lock’em up for a long time. Well guess what, don’t you think that option was explored??? Do you think that is an original idea that was ignored???

Finally, there is the gratuitous and unsupported charge of corruption.

There is nothing rouge about trotting out worn out cliche’s, and longstanding, unproductive Atlanta bashing.

In order to have Mayor Franklin lauded as “Winner” what would you have her do to ‘eliminate’ the panhandling problem, in a way that would have whitebread conservatives applauding?

Solutions, anyone…(and no, offering ‘well I certainly would not do “X”‘ is NOT a solution, its a rock)?

waiting….waiting….

still waiting…..

You just don’t get it..mo’ is better..come on son..get with it.