Yellow Meters Not a Big Deal

Why are So Many Talking About the Donation Meters?

I have only one problem with the yellow donation parking meters that the Downtown Cleveland Alliance installed downtown, but they are not a big deal. Everyone seems to have a strong opinion about these meters. There are those who love them and feel a sense of triumph that we are finally doing something about panhandling. There are many who feel that this is some weak attempt by the City to make money off of the charity of pedestrians. Neither of these scenarios are true. My biggest concern is that people will feel that we are addressing homelessness with the table scraps that will be collected. Homelessness is an expensive problem to solve that has resulted because our federal government has tried to find ways to cut costs. They have cut housing, job training, health care, and entitlements, and basically passed those costs onto the local community. That is why we have so many homeless people and why there are so many people who resort to begging for cash.

This is not a City of Cleveland program, and none of the money goes to the City. No city employee will even be collecting the money. These funds may benefit a few panhandlers who need identification not just to get social services, but to get housing, jobs and in many cases prescription drugs. Most people will continue to give to panhandlers, because they will want to give directly to a person without the administrative overhead. Finally, panhandlers rarely organize themselves and will not complain very loudly because they do not want to call attention to themselves. It is unlikely that we will ever see a panhandler revolt or even a panhandling protest.

With this in mind, I have to question the Plain Dealer editorial on Friday. This big corporate interest in Cleveland with their own building and security personnel is condemning the poorest people in our community who have decided that they have no where else to turn but to beg for money in the hot sun or the rain.

"JEERS . . . to panhandlers who don't like the yellow meter idea. They may prefer the direct approach, but most pedestrians don't enjoy it. It's possible that because of the meters at least a few people will be moved to charity, rather than just moving across the street to avoid a panhandler."

What is the purpose of this swipe? The biggest fear for these suits from the suburbs up to now is if it is going to rain on Saturday thus wiping out their golf or tennis game now are concerned about the complaints of panhandlers. Here is something to be afraid of: put these yellow meters in the lobby of City Hall and the County Administration building so that our elected officials can put in spare change into them every time a corporation or businessman comes in begging for a tax abatement or a variance for their building.

Bottom line is that these are not a big deal. People need to calm down about the yellow donation meters. We still have the choice to give or not to give. This is just one more opportunity to do something charitable. Now, the panhandlers just need to figure out how to quickly accept credit card donations in order to get a leg up on the yellow meters.

Brian
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