Homeless Need Break

In response to “Just Say No to Panhandlers, New Coalition Says” (Nov. 10), how is it possible for Michael Granberry to do a story on panhandling without talking to any homeless people or panhandlers? If he had taken the time (I’m sure it was much quicker to get a couple of quotes over the phone from the police and Msgr. Joe Carroll), he probably would have been told that one of the problems many poor people face is a lack of transportation to get to missions and churches where meals are provided.

Wouldn’t it also have been a good idea to have raised the issue of why these business and community leaders are opposed to giving money to the poor? Rather than being concerned about an alleged increase in violence, isn’t it more likely that they are more interested in hiding signs of poverty in San Diego from tourists and potential shoppers? Please, those with money and power have many channels through which they can disseminate their views, I would like to think that The Times represents the concerns of the whole community.

CRAIG THOMPSON

San Diego