Heads up: Panhandling beyond the downtown area

[mr.jaynes]

I'm back a little close to two months now, and I'm glad to be back on Tulsa time. I'm looking to settle here once more, put down roots here after living in New Orleans and Biloxi (in that order) since the early 90's. Thing about home, it always brings you back somehow.

One thing I remember about downtown was all the panhandlers: you couldn't even go to the library downtown without getting approached. Stop for gas somewhere downtown, and somebody would approach you. Well, things seem to have changed as I've returned. My work these days as a chauffeur takes me all over the Tulsa area, from downtown to the burbs, to all the hotels and the airport. I take clients downtown, and believe it or not, the panhandlers don't approach me. Either the city passed some ordinances to this regard, or they just plain left the downtown area. I'm betting on the latter. Since coming back, it seems the panhandlers have moved into the burbs, and it's here that I want to relate my experiences, so as to give folks on the board a heads up and let them know about certain scams out there to better prepare yourselves just in case. I know, because I've been approached several times already.

Before we start: I'm not prejudiced nor racist, and I do believe in being charitable. But I won't let people take advantage of me either.

In order:

After visiting with friend in Sapulpa, I stopped off at the Quik Trip off of I-44 west and the turnpike area for a few items. Out front quick bite. As I was walking out, a young lady with exotic features (possibly light-skinned black or Puerto Rican/Dominican), about 19, and kinda fidgety in her manner, comes up to ask if I'd give her exactly $30 so she could take a cab to Wagoner, as she had no money; she also hinted that she could "work for it," if that's what I wanted. Well, I know that taking a cab anywhere locally in any city may not be prohibitively expensive, but it don't come cheap either. But Wagoner is what, 50 miles away from that part of town; a cab to Wagoner, however, may set you back at least $100 if not more.

Given her movements and her insistence of $30, as well as her argumentativeness, I took her to be a crackhead or addicted to some other substance: for sure not on the up-and-up. Supposedly she lives in that area of town, so be careful and exercise caution if she approaches you.

Next is in the 51st and Lewis area. After getting off duty and  subsequently visiting at the apartment of another friend, a young white female, ash-blonde hair, stops me in the parking lot to ask if I could give her money for a cab out to the North Side. Like the prvios female, she was clearly in withdrawal and argumentative. I bolted toward my truck and took off. Since she need a cab, she also does not seem to have a car, and must be indigenous to that part of town.

Finally, last week, while enjoying dinner at the Golden Corral at 21st and Memorial, I'm approached by a young black male, early 20s, kind of scruffy looking, probably hadn't bathed for a week. After rubbing shoulders with everyone else there, he tries to sit at my table, to hustle food, and exactly $40 to pay to someone he wants to stay with at 64th and Peoria (didn't someone on this board say that was "the hood" ?). Claimed he worked for a call center at 81st and Lewis and claimed to come from Atlanta to attend school at ORU. Recited a rap for me (sans beatbox or sampling to accompany him), and said that Jamaica was in need of the Gospel. After declining his requests, he petulantly went on to the next person.

Now, I'm glad to be back to town and all, but this panhandling is way too much. So if any of these sterling examples of humanity approach you, don't walk away. Run as fast as your feet will carry you.

[sgrizzle]

I get hit up for cash about 20 times in south Tulsa for every one time downtown.

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

I get hit up for cash about 20 times in south Tulsa for every one time downtown.

I figure, if they spent as much time and expended an equal amount of energy looking for gainful employment donkey they do in trying to hustle people out of their hard-earned money, they'd be in a much better place in life. Liberal as I am in so much of my politics, I still believe in honest work for honest pay, as well as personal resposibility.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by mr.jaynes

As I was walking out, a young lady with exotic features (possibly light-skinned black or Puerto Rican/Dominican

well, was she HAWT?[}:)]

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

quote:Originally posted by mr.jaynes

As I was walking out, a young lady with exotic features (possibly light-skinned black or Puerto Rican/Dominican

well, was she HAWT?[}:)]

Thing is, despite showing some degree of addiction to some illegal substance, she probably was not far into the addiction to really affect her looks.

What do you mean by "hot" anyway?

[tulsa1603]

I've noticed a huge increase lately, particularly on 15th street between Peoria and Harvard.  And many of them are so brazen, they come into businesses and ask for money!  I've never been asked for money downtown, it's always in SOBO, the QT at 15th and Denver, or along Cherry Street.  I've also had it happen at the Reasor's at 21st and Yale, and the Albertson's (now Reasor's) at 15th and Yale.  I guess they go where the people are, and downtown ain't it.

[Kashmir]

It can be VERY scary to be approached when I'm holding one child, holding hand of another, lugging diaper bag full of baby stuff and some loser comes up to me for $$$$.  Pisses me off!!![!]

Something should be done, but what?

[Aa5drvr]

Ive had another expereince in Dallas.  Checking into a nice hotel in Addison, I get hit up in a parking lot by a nicely dressed couple that is "stranded."  They want $$ for a hotel room.  Not a hotel room but $$ for a "hotel room."

According to the manager, this is the new scam.  People travelling driving rental cars and  checking into a nice hotel are the demographic to have some cash on them, so they have become the new mark.  
The hotel manager recognized them and said they work the nicer Addison area hotels quite a bit.

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by Kashmir

It can be VERY scary to be approached when I'm holding one child, holding hand of another, lugging diaper bag full of baby stuff and some loser comes up to me for $$$$.  Pisses me off!!![!]

Something should be done, but what?

Did this happen in Tulsa? Also, it depends how they put their requests out there. Are they asking? Are they telling? Are they demanding? Not just what they want, but also how bad they want it and how they make their wants known. While residing in New Orleans, I saw that they came in different shapes and sizes and intent. But I imagine they are the same wherever you go.

True story. After leaving work one night (I tended bar at night in a restaurant there for a time), I walked down to the French Quarter, when right on Bourbon Street, a large framed guy comes up to me and asks me if I can give him $5 for some reason. Well, I tell him no and try to walk around him. He kept following me, trying to get me to give in. I refused and walked faster. It was getting tense every minute, because I honestly thought the situation would have turned violent, but fortunately not. Come to find out he hung out there all the time and hassled anybody he could; supposedly he tended to try to shake down the tourists first, then locals.

Then another evening, I went to the Wal-Mart in Metairie (Jefferson Parish), a suburb of New Orleans. When I walked out of the store, there was a woman hanging about the parking lot who wanted money to buy chicken. What was odd was a week later, she was there again, only that time, she wanted money to buy hot dogs. She seemed harmless enough, but nothing says she couldn't get off her rear end and get a job like the rest of us.

So they seem to be different. All depends on where we are, who's asking and what they want. I do not help too many of them. I think i have a seventh sense for who's genuinely in dire straits, who's in their situation because they chose to be, who's brought it on themselves, and who's just running a scam.

quote:Originally posted by tulsa1603

I've noticed a huge increase lately, particularly on 15th street between Peoria and Harvard.  And many of them are so brazen, they come into businesses and ask for money!  I've never been asked for money downtown, it's always in SOBO, the QT at 15th and Denver, or along Cherry Street.  I've also had it happen at the Reasor's at 21st and Yale, and the Albertson's (now Reasor's) at 15th and Yale.  I guess they go where the people are, and downtown ain't it.

If they spent as much time trying to find work at these establishments as they do trying to shake down their customers, they'd be better off.

quote:Originally posted by Aa5drvr

Ive had another expereince in Dallas.  Checking into a nice hotel in Addison, I get hit up in a parking lot by a nicely dressed couple that is "stranded."  They want $$ for a hotel room.  Not a hotel room but $$ for a "hotel room."

According to the manager, this is the new scam.  People travelling driving rental cars and  checking into a nice hotel are the demographic to have some cash on them, so they have become the new mark.  
The hotel manager recognized them and said they work the nicer Addison area hotels quite a bit.

That's good to know. From here on out, whenever I take a passenger to a hotel in the area, I plan to advise them of this scam.

[TUalum0982]

at any give point in the day you can see several on 71st usually between Mingo and 169.  There are about 3-4 "regular ones" that I see several times a week.  After reading your post, I do remember going to the downtown library as a kid with my dad to the book sale they had in the basement and do remember all types of people walking up to us asking for money.  I havent been to that library in years but do go downtown on occasion to eat coneys and see some games, and have yet to come across one in quite some time.  They have definitely moved out to the burbs and south Tulsa.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by TUalum0982

at any give point in the day you can see several on 71st usually between Mingo and 169.  There are about 3-4 "regular ones" that I see several times a week.  After reading your post, I do remember going to the downtown library as a kid with my dad to the book sale they had in the basement and do remember all types of people walking up to us asking for money.  I havent been to that library in years but do go downtown on occasion to eat coneys and see some games, and have yet to come across one in quite some time.  They have definitely moved out to the burbs and south Tulsa.

those at 71st/169 should be run over.  they are professional con artists.

[brunoflipper]

the most tenacious one lately is the dude with the cane who works 15th street... i get asked by him twice a month... he's always in front of kilkennys /hideaway... i usually say "nope, sorry" and go about my businesss but last saturday, while going in to eat (the wife and kids) he approached the car while we were unloading and that realy pissed me off...
i've been asked by two different bums inside empire in the past 6 months... one was a big dude and a little ominous... after i said no, he started asking only the females in the bar... i alerted the bartender and the bouncer through him out and not in a nice way...

also got asked by slick lookin' dude inside the mercury lounge at 9 pm on a thursday... he really went all out... he was really flamboyant, he burst in the door and asked for everyone's attention.... he was in a late model overcoat and suit (thrift store special), his hair slicked down and a $1 "dolce and gabana" watch... his elaborate story included bus tickets printed with his name (he provided a texas ID to prove it) and tickets with is "daughter's" name but alas, he was $20 short of buying one for his wife... he had lost his credit card and was unable to purchase the third ticket... he was trying to raise $20 but would take "anything you can spare" and offered his "christmas present " watch  for sale "make him an offer"... this was all quite entertaining... he was a true con-artist.... it was like watching a street performer... totally reminded me of "the grifters"...

[swake]

The panhandlers certainly have changed the last few years, sometimes I wonder if it isn't Katrina. New Orleans always had a ton of aggressive and often entertaining panhandlers and con men. I wonder if since the hurricane a few dozen of them made their way here. We are America's most charitable city, charitable to some means sucker to others.

[TeeDub]

We have the same ones wander down from 12&12 on an almost daily basis.    

They sit/nap/drink beer behind the Citgo dumpster at 41st and I44 and then about lunchtime and again about 5 they hit the offramps asking for handouts.
"Looking for work" riiiight.

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by TeeDub


We have the same ones wander down from 12&12 on an almost daily basis.    

They sit/nap/drink beer behind the Citgo dumpster at 41st and I44 and then about lunchtime and again about 5 they hit the offramps asking for handouts.
"Looking for work" riiiight.

I enjoy watching the guys at 14th & Utica. Great begging spot because its between the two hospitals guaranteeing a source of fresh meat for them. A van drops them off. My son and I were watching one morning when this occurred and I pointed out to him that they were using a cell phone. Hard to feign poverty when you can afford a cell phone and have transportation. You give to these guys and its like throwing money out the window at high speed.