Platform : Is a Panhandler a Crook?

Increased panhandling prompted the 700-member Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to examine the issue last October. Mirroring similar efforts in Santa Monica and Studio City, the group in July put out nearly 1,000 posters encouraging shoppers and tourists to donate to charities rather than individuals. Area social service agencies were incensed by the posters, which they felt depicted panhandlers as con artists (the youth pictured is an actor). Below, members of the community talk about their campaign.

MARY RAINWATER

Executive director, Los Angeles Free Clinic

I think there is a heightened sense of concern in Hollywood right now about people on the street, partly because there are more homeless here than ever, and also because Hollywood has gone through some desperate economic times in the last couple years.

Many businesses falsely blame the social services for the panhandler problem. I think the poster just exacerbated this very fragile situation by suggesting that all panhandlers are liars and not to be trusted.

Representatives of leading social services including us, Covenant House, Salvation Army and the Coordinating Council have agreed to work more closely on their task force and they have promised to let us know when they’ll be talking about something that impacts social services.

ADELE KLATE

Owner, Gulliver’s Travels

I thought the poster was humorous. But I don’t think it will stop the tourists from giving to panhandlers because they’re whisked in and out so fast by the tours that it won’t make an impression on them.

At one time we had policemen in shorts on bikes and a security force that looked like Royal Canadian Mounties. The tourists always liked having their pictures taken with them. Why don’t we get them back? And how about actors dressed as cowboys strolling up and down the street like they do at City Walk? We could have celebrity look-alikes like Marilyn Monroe or Bella Lugosi. I think people here have lost their sense of humor.

LERON GUBLER

Executive director, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce

The social service agencies felt the poster was insensitive. I look at it from a business perspective. We have a group of punk rockers that just managed to close down our last men’s store because of the aggressive panhandling. Is it insensitive for me to try to save the last men’s store on Hollywood Boulevard?

We’ve also been developing “charity meters,” based on a program in Nashville, Tenn., where people put donations into parking-style meters instead of to panhandlers. We have also talked about putting the posters in all the hotels in different languages to alert the tourists and printing cards to be given to the panhandlers telling them where food and social services are.

BENJAMIN CABLE

Manages three Hollywood stores

Most of the merchants, like us, are afraid of putting the posters up. They’re afraid their windows are going to be smashed by the panhandlers. There’s been an influx of social services and church outreach programs here within the last couple years because they all see Hollywood as this blighted area. They’re providing clean needles, the bleach to disinfect them, food and clothing, which gives people the means to live on the street. Somebody needs to regulate these social service agencies and disperse them throughout L.A.

CARMEN GONZALES

Field director for Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg

Our office is looking for a little less cynical approach than that panhandlers are con artists.

The panhandlers are not in Hollywood because the social services are there. Hollywood is a magnet, particularly for the runaway youth. Those kids are going to remain there no matter what. I don’t believe a kid in Iowa says, “I’m going to Hollywood to get medical care and food from the L.A. Free Clinic.”

There’s a variety of inhabitants on the boulevard. There are different answers depending on the different populations.

CAPTAIN GLENN ACKERMAN

Commanding officer, Hollywood Area, LAPD

We did record checks on all the aggressive panhandlers arrested so far this year. There is not one that did not have a pre-existing arrest record. About 25% had warrants out for their arrest.

Compiled for The Times by Simon Lockwood.