Every Saturday morning, as I drive down Fountain View Drive to my clarinet lesson, I am overwhelmed by the number of people standing in the middle of the street asking for money. As I pass them I cringe and pray that I haven't poorly estimated my spacing or I that I may have to swerve for some reason and hit them. These seemingly fearless people, despite their background or purpose, are panhandlers.
Over the last 18 months, Harris County has been working on a proposition to reduce panhandling. While the proposition doesn't directly eliminate it, it restricts the beggars to sidewalks and prohibits them from setting a foot in the street abc13video.
This proposition will not only keep the panhandlers safer, but it will also ease drivers minds. I know that when I see someone asking for money on the road, I am not only afraid of hitting them, but I am also afraid of their reaction when I don't give them money. Some of these beggars have mental disorders and/or drug problems and become quite confrontational. If panhandling reduced to sidewalks, at least they cannot come near my car without breaking the law, though I would prefer panhandling be banned altogether.
Claire Fisher
News Editor
Three Penny Press
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