Atlanta outlawed panhandle at the request of aquarium owner.

[Tim4319]

Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus had the city of Atlanta outlaw panhandling in order to build the new aquarium in downtown Atlanta.

My thinking, if this is such a big issue, why not offer them some employment? Instead of putting them in a worse off situation; how much worse can it be living on the street. But, at least help them out somehow.

<<snip>>
Under the Georgia Aquarium's price plan, annual passes for a family of four would cost about $205. The much smaller Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga charges $85 for a yearly family membership.

Some homeless advocates took issue with Marcus when he became involved in a high-profile fight for an Atlanta ordinance banning aggressive panhandling in downtown Atlanta, a frequent complaint of tourists visiting the city.

"People are not going to come down here and eat dinner if they are afraid to get in their cars," Marcus said at the time.

The Atlanta City Council eventually passed the ordinance 12-3 after a raucous meeting at which some homeless advocates shouted down council members.

And a few animal rights groups have opposed the aquarium's plan to display whale sharks and belugas.

Some groups argue that no wild animals should be on display, while others object specifically to large oceangoing creatures like whale sharks and belugas' being confined.

Marcus has dismissed most of the criticism with a wave of his hand.

Once the public experiences the aquarium, he said, the complaints will go silent.

"I want people to walk in and be happy when they walk in," he said. "And I want them to be overjoyed when they walk out."

http://www.oxfordpress.com/business/content/shared/news/nation/stories/11/metaquarium1120b.html

[madeline_con]

1. Who said these panhandlers are all...

homeless and/or unemployed?

Are they disabled?

[Tim4319]

2. I know all situations are different!

But, I believe instead of just forcing them out, maybe into a different part of town to become someone else's problem. Why not take some of that money used to build the aquarium and renovate a few buildings for those who are homeless. Or, create a few jobs to those who could use some work.

[madeline_con]

3. They could work at the aquarium.

IF they want a job.

Have they expressed any such desire?

[Tim4319]

5. That was the point I was trying to make?

No, they have not express any interest to help them find jobs.

[madeline_con]

7. Did any of the panhandlers express an interest in a job?

Why should every business owner inundated by bums be obligated to worry about whether they have jobs?

[MGKrebs]

13. Not sure what you are saying...

You are thinking that most of these people made a conscious decision, after reviewing the available opportunities, to beg for coins and cigarette butts instead of cooking at Waffle House or loading trucks or sweeping floors? At the end of the day they get in their car and go home to the 'burbs, stop on the way for a Starbucks coffee?

Unemployment = total available people minus total available jobs.
There are more people than jobs. Unemployment is about 5%. 5% of 3 million= 150,000. That means no matter how hard they look, or what they do, at any given moment there will be 150,000 people in the metro area who will not have jobs. Many of them don't have jobs because they are the least competitive among us, for any number of reasons. But there will always be those who are least competitive. There is no way around it. Even if everybody were Bill Gates, with more people than jobs some would lose out.

I'm not saying you have to love them, but at least don't automatically hate them.

[madeline_con]

14. "... but at least don't automatically hate them."

I don't know them well enough to decide if I hate them.

I can't assume they're all just down on their luck disabled people, either.

Since when are honest jobs like cooking at Waffle House or loading trucks or sweeping floors worse than begging for coins and cigarette butts?

[RubyDuby in GA]

4. I see both sides to this

And before any of you tell me I'm a terrible person, I work about 5 blocks from this new monstrosity. I've worked right in the heart of downtown Atlanta for 7 years and the panhandling has always been bad. And what I mean by bad is very, very aggressive panhandlers - following you for blocks, shouting every obscenity at you, etc.
I have noticed a decrease in the panhandlers since this was passed.

With that having been said, I completely agree that simply pushing them out of one part of the city does nothing to help alleviate the problem of Atlanta's homeless. I've long thought that a work problem would benefit all parties, i.e. the city is a giant cesspool - it's one of the most filthy cities you'll ever see - it's like the people think the great outdoors is their own personal trashcan. Pay an honest days wage for an honest days work of helping to clean up the city to any homeless person who wants to work for the money to pay for their board at a shelter (because this city charges for room in a shelter).

[RubyDuby in GA]

6. P.S. It's seriously one of the ugliest buildings I've ever seen

Obviously, money doesn't buy you taste Bernie.

But then again, it will fit right in with the new Symphony Hall:

I don't give a flying fuck if it is designed by Santiago Calatrava - it's ugly.

[bballny]

8. where is it in downtown?

[RubyDuby in GA]

9. Right next to Centennial Olympic Park

Down the street from CNN Center

[bballny]

10. is it on Marietta st

[RubyDuby in GA]

11. Nope, it's down at the other end of the park

At Baker Street

[MGKrebs]

12. Like I've been saying:

Atlanta- where the homeless aren't allowed to beg, and the fish don't have to!

[proud patriot]

15. Tim4319 please read

in the future please limit your snips of articles to 4
paragraphs as per the Democratic Underground
copyright rules .

proud patriot Moderator
Democratic Underground

[Tim4319]

16. Okay