San Clemente’s Panhandlers

I have always felt that San Clemente was the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. There’s no place I’d rather live.

Unfortunately, the panhandlers feel the same way, and a growing number are staking claim to our public streets and freeway offramps. Many of these are not hard-luck transients but rather professional bums. They stand on the corner to make a living. From the looks of things, business is booming. On Camino de la Estrella, you can find the same person standing on the divider every day.

Now, if I were a bum and landed in an area where the good, guilt-ridden middle class felt obligated to appease my pathetic face and sob-story sign with a few bucks, I doubt I’d be in a hurry to leave.

After all, the weather’s quite nice and the work isn’t very demanding. I have a problem with the weak enforcement of our municipal codes by the Sheriff’s Department and harbor stronger malevolence toward those who actually stop in the middle of the road to put money in the outstretched palm of panhandlers.

I believe we all have a responsibility to help those less fortunate than ourselves. There are plenty of “real” needy people in this town who “really” need help and who can be found through church, school and numerous civic and charitable organizations. That’s how you make a difference.

BRUCE CARTER

San Clemente