Posted on Mon, 04/28/2008 - 19:44 — by jhd1200
every day i see the same guy with the little 4inch by 6 inch sign asking for money so today when driving by he was there again and there was another guy across the st. waving a sign for a local vendor getting paid for what he is doing,do you think that the supposedly homeless guy makes more money and wouldnt want to wave a sigh for the vendor because he would make less money?
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 575
He was afraid he might have to sign a waiver in order to wave a sign. Holding a sign is much less of a commitment.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 529
The big issue would be that if he took a job he would be expected to work a full day for his wages and not just long enough to get enough money to buy a 40oz beer or whatever he spends his money on.
That's just my opinion, but I could be Wrong.
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 161
oh heck yeah he makes more but its also a riskier job err life to be a panhandler, he prolly couldnt handle holding down a real job let alone get through the day with out that 40oz or what ever Cowboy mentioned. makes you wonder what drove him to such depths of lifestyle, id definitely be afraid to walk a mile in his shoes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1851
Some might say both sign holders and waivers are working. My wife has this superstition that she cannot pass by a panhandler without giving him a dollar. When we came out of the Giants' game we had to walk way down the embarcadero where we parked and on the way we passed a panhandler sitting on the concrete benches with a "please help" sign so she stopped and opened up her purse (it wasn't dangerous because a lot of other fans were walking to their cars too). After the guy thanked her and we walked a little further along we passed at least 2 or 3 other homeless guys. One was just sitting on the bench with his back to us glaring out over the water and another guy was cuddled up in a sleeping bag trying to sleep on the hard concrete bench. I asked my wife, "what about those guys?" She answered, "they're not asking, so it's ok not to give them anything." I guess as far as her superstition goes, they don't get paid breaks. At least she makes them work for it and doesn't just give them a free hand out. I figure it's a good lesson for my kids if they happen to become bums someday.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 529
The only one I ever had the urge to give money was the first time I saw a guy with a sign that read "why lie.....I need a beer". Truth in advertising.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1851
That's when it's really convenient because you can just hand them the rest of your beer.
My wife and I differ in philosophies. She would rather give them a dollar directly and let them pay the tax on it, where I prefer to write a check to the soup kitchen at the end of the year and take a deduction on my taxes. I don't know if either way is better than the other, but at least we have it covered so they guy with the sign gets something and the guy sleeping on the park bench gets something. It's a win/win for everybody.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 178
theres a regular panhandler at la costa taqaria <---------------probably misspelled that will ask for money for a while then go across to centro-mart by the coke machine and count money i watched him for a while one time and dood was rollin in doe,by the way la costa has awesome burritos always fast curtious and its not just the burritos but the tortillas are great. sorry to get off the subject just had to give them a plug it is the only place i will travel to another town to get a burrito.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 529
Yea, there's a guy that spends all day hanging around the Safeway Store on Deer Valley who always asks for money or food. As much effort as he puts into that he could get a real job.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1851
Or even just a seasonal job, like a bell ringer for the Salvation Army during Christmas right there outside Safeway.
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 161
wheres this burrito place i have yet to find a great cheap mongo burrito over on this side of town
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 178
right across from the new oakley police station next to centro mart in oakley $4 a burrito try the el pastor it is awesome,fast service always seating it is an out door place and always plenty of tapatia sauce.