Donation Meters
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.
Comments
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
I doubt it would really keep the panhandlers away, though I would probably be more likely to donate to something like this. I usually end up running away from aggressive people who shove things in your face and demand money. LOL
Posted by Heidi on 09/29 at 10:02 AM
Heidi--the monetary take from these devices seems utterly inconsequential for gov't and panhandlers alike!
Posted by Paul on 09/29 at 10:14 AM
I'm sure the panhandlers really love it when they ask for money and the person they're asking says "OK" and drops it all in a meter.
Posted by Caffeinated Katie on 09/29 at 10:19 AM
I'm much more likely to donate to this than to them, even if I do it right in front of them. Seriously, after the 'expose' on a girl who wasn't homeless at all and was skipping school to pretend on a corner and panhandle (making tons of money doing it, too), I'm even less inclined to donate directly to the person asking for money.
If they really want a sandwich, then they can go to the food kitchen and ask them. I simply assume all they want is alcohol, and damned if I'm gonna help them get it.
If they really want a sandwich, then they can go to the food kitchen and ask them. I simply assume all they want is alcohol, and damned if I'm gonna help them get it.
Posted by Cap'n Ahd on 09/29 at 10:30 AM
They implemented these in Athens Georgia a few years back and they seem to have eased the begging some - but that was before $4 a gallon gas (if it could be found). I suppose more people would chunk a quarter or two in a meter instead of just giving it to them directly. By handing them money directly, you become a target for them all the next time you're downtown.
Posted by Paul Thomas in Athens, Georgia on 09/29 at 11:15 AM
CK--right! Seems like an invitiation to getting punched out!
Posted by Paul on 09/29 at 11:36 AM
Cap'n--I liked the stat of some beggars making $50K a year!
Posted by Paul on 09/29 at 11:36 AM
Paul T--thanks for the firsthand report!
Posted by Paul on 09/29 at 11:37 AM
Paul--That's very true, though I like Caffeinated Katie's idea of donating to the meters right in front of the panhandlers...
Posted by Heidi on 09/29 at 12:10 PM
Heidi--maybe these devices should be called "piss-off-the-panhandler" meters instead!
Posted by Paul on 09/29 at 12:22 PM
They had these in Portland for awhile - one right in the lobby of Powell's Books downtown. Apparently wasn't much of a success because they've been gone for about a year.
Posted by Irene in Oregon on 09/29 at 12:22 PM
Paul--I like this idea! They should have these all over here in Los Angeles.
Posted by Heidi on 09/29 at 01:35 PM
I've seen these. The description of them as 'piss off the homeless meters' is accurate. They're placed in areas where the homeless have been especially agressive about handouts. While the 'take' from them is minimal, they fulfill the need for some people to 'give to the poor unfortunate', while at the same time satisfying the 'don't give, they'll just buy alchol with it' vibe. The result is that those asking for handouts don't get them, and move on to greener pastures.
Posted by Bobcat on 09/29 at 08:21 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.
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 09/29 at 11:49 PM
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 at 07:03 AM
Bobcat--so the meters simply displace the problem...
Posted by Paul on 09/30 at 07:03 AM
Pablo--thanks for the hard data!
Posted by Paul on 09/30 at 07:04 AM
Pablo: Yeah, I know him and you're right about Heery being a hard head (to be polite). But sometime you need people like him to be a butt. Kind of like me at times.
They've since put in recepticals for cigarette butts, and smokers lean against them, smoke away, and stomp out their butts on the sidewalk. They're quite artistic though. Story here: http://www.athensclarkecounty.com/solidwaste/index.htm
They've since put in recepticals for cigarette butts, and smokers lean against them, smoke away, and stomp out their butts on the sidewalk. They're quite artistic though. Story here: http://www.athensclarkecounty.com/solidwaste/index.htm
Posted by Paul Thomas in Athens, Georgia on 09/30 at 07:57 AM
Best way to take care of beggars is to give foreign money from the country your in. Did it all the time while in the navy. Spanish coins in France, French coins in Italy. Give a handful to a few beggars and they left you alone like you had the plague. Of course now they all have the Euro.
Bet I could find a bunch of coins from Mexico that would serve just as well now.
Bet I could find a bunch of coins from Mexico that would serve just as well now.
Posted by Wenthral on 09/30 at 01:14 PM
Wenthral--I like this strategy!
Posted by Paul on 09/30 at 01:30 PM
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Category: Bums, Hobos, Tramps, Beggars, Panhandlers and Other Streetpeople, Entertainment, Government, Money, Charity, Signage, Stupidity, Experiments