http://suncityindependent.az.newsmemory.com/ "...Residents could have reason to be concerned about their safety. Glendale Police Department conducted educational visits with panhandlers during the 2013 holiday season and during those sessions three of four contacted had outstanding arrest warrants, and one had an extensive criminal history, according to police officials." A problem or fear mongering?
The criminal aspect might be a bit of the fear mongering and I've not seen any aggressive panhandlers. The fact that they are standing next to your car looking down and in for the duration of a red light is very unsettling. At times they have left trash laying about and camped out at various sites. They do present a safety issue when they are out in the raised medians at the turn lanes. Some of the raised medians are very narrow and don't even have crosswalks. According to the referenced news article, in Glendale it would be against their statutes to remain standing in the medians. I have seen them run out into traffic to talk to drivers and sometimes collect money. So it may be a problem but easily corrected if traffic & State statutes are enforced by MCSO on streets and AZ DPS on the Grand Avenue(US 60) medians.
Yeah, I'm not trying to start any arguments. I was just shocked to see the article. I guess it's similar to where I live now, in Seattle you can't walk a block before being approached by 3 or 4 folks. That might be because the building I am in is only a block and a half from Pike Place Market. I live about 20 miles south of the city, we have a handful of folks who regularly stand at the main intersections, but once you get to the residential area there isn't anyone on the corners. I wish I had an answer.
I've seen some on the same corner in Los Angeles for 20 years...watched them get old. After several years it's a type of job for them. Various tactics are used that come and go. For a while they had signs that said "I'm stranded and trying to get bus fare back home." Lately I've seen some carry an empty gas can and ask for a dollar because they ran out of gas. I wasn't aware of the 2013 ruling that begging constitutes free speech. Now I understand why many cities can do little to stop it.
J and V , I live in Bellevue when I am not in SCAZ. Some very creative hustling on First near the Market.
The simplest solution is if no one gives to the beggars they will go somewhere else. Unfortunately it is not an easy solution to implement because some folks think they are actually helping. In reality they are just enabling these folks to continue this behavior. When we lived in CA the news interviewed a few panhandlers and consensus was they typically lived in nice apartments and made $70K/ year tax free. There are those that live in cardboard boxes and are a little off, but I suspect most are just after an easy buck. Yup, I'm one of those that don't give anymore, was scammed a few too many times.
I lived in Kirkland for a few years and on Whidbey Island for many years. You will definitely enjoy the sunshine all year in Sun City. Winter arrived here overnight a couple of weeks ago. I am now in the process of changing clothes from summer to winter. Last week I had my AC serviced and changed from cold to heat. During the night I keep it at 58. First thing in morning up to 70. Then after breakfast down to 68 for the rest of the day. What settings do you other people in SC do?
I'm curious to know winter temps in SC. I've only visited during the heat. Maybe it's not too different than what I'm used to here in LA. Will be great to spend more comfortable time outside in the yard. But get ready for the El Nino rainy year.
Click on link below for weather info for Sun City and other interesting facts. http://www.areavibes.com/sun+city-az/weather/
You live in an urban area you'll see panhandling. You live in a warm climate, you'll see more homeless. Having either's presence is not a sign the sky is falling. I overheard someone in a rec center locker room giving the gloom and doom to a new resident because a homeless person was found sleeping on the grass. If that's the height of your complaint, things aren't that bad. There are some homeless that stay out by the river trails. I see them often while riding (they have bikes too). I've not once had a problem. Today, one of them had a garbage bag and was gathering trash. So there's that.
