Begging You To Stop

Tools

Story Published: Oct 27, 2009 at 5:28 PM PST

By Sade Malloy

YAKIMA -- Panhandlers have been an eyesore for years but if the Mayor has his way, they'll be off the streets soon.

Beggars trying to make a quick buck are giving Yakima a bad image.

"Look like they're able to work so why are they still on the streets, why are they on the corner, why are they still begging?" says Vanessa Sanchez, Yakima.

The number of panhandlers in the city is on the rise. It's got the Mayor so frustrated he wants to take legal action. But there's not much he can do to curb the problem on the corner. There's no law that says I can't stand here with a sign asking for money or food.

"We're just simply limited to removing a panhandler if they're aggressive if they're stepping out into the streets," says Daved Edler, Mayor of Yakima.

Yakima Police say their enforcement is limited too. There are no patrols specifically for panhandlers they only respond to complaints.

"I got to get some money, it's better then robbing or stealing," local beggar.

This man didn't want to give us his name but says he has to beg because he can't find a job. Locals we talked to say the real reason is some beggars are so successful on the street they don't bother finding a way out.

"Sadly the most effective tool is to encourage your citizens not to participate," says Daved Edler, Mayor of Yakima.

Cutting the hand that feeds them, it's not a new concept but it's what the Mayor is convinced will send these beggars packing and clean up street corners from Nob Hill to North First Street.

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