Donation Meters

image
How to solve the problem of unruly panhandlers?

The donation meter!

The picture here portrays one in Denver, which I found on the Flickr page of msitarzewski.

Read all about Atlanta's recent experiment with donation meters here.

     Posted By: Paul - Mon Sep 29, 2008
     Category: Bums, Hobos, Tramps, Beggars, Panhandlers and Other Streetpeople | Entertainment | Government | Money | Charity | Signage | Stupidity | Experiments





Comments
Heidi--the monetary take from these devices seems utterly inconsequential for gov't and panhandlers alike!
Posted by Paul on 09/29/08 at 01:14 PM
CK--right! Seems like an invitiation to getting punched out!
Posted by Paul on 09/29/08 at 02:36 PM
Cap'n--I liked the stat of some beggars making $50K a year!
Posted by Paul on 09/29/08 at 02:36 PM
Paul T--thanks for the firsthand report!
Posted by Paul on 09/29/08 at 02:37 PM
Heidi--maybe these devices should be called "piss-off-the-panhandler" meters instead!
Posted by Paul on 09/29/08 at 03:22 PM
Yeah, they put the meters in Athens, GA shortly before I left. Here is an article from 2003 before they realized that the meters would be a failure.
http://media.www.redandblack.com/media/storage/paper871/news/2003/09/16/News/Meters.Aim.To.Deter.Begging-2578272.shtml
They apparently yield aprox. $2000 a year. You could make the meters ad space and probably get about that much. I don't know if Paul Thomas knew the owner of Heery's but hes' the moron that pushed for the idea. I remember being asked for money from beggars right in front of the meters.
Posted by Pablo on 09/30/08 at 02:49 AM
Irene--I made my first visit to Powell's recently and did notice a lot of street people out front....
Posted by Paul on 09/30/08 at 10:03 AM
Bobcat--so the meters simply displace the problem...
Posted by Paul on 09/30/08 at 10:03 AM
Pablo--thanks for the hard data!
Posted by Paul on 09/30/08 at 10:04 AM
Wenthral--I like this strategy!
Posted by Paul on 09/30/08 at 04:30 PM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.