2008 Woodie Awards
Thoughts written on napkins
Dan Rosenberg
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Opinion
Downtown Nashville is experiencing a time of unprecedented growth, both financially and demographically. New condo developments are constantly built and filled with young professionals who have an eye for the urban lifestyle. This sort of development, sometimes called urban renewal, is often done under the pretense of uplifting a decrepit cityscape and is meant to be both pleasurable and charitable. Many of these new downtown residents, however, are trying to turn a blind eye to a particular feature of urban living. Their version of urban living does not include having to deal with homeless people.
Not only has the supposedly progressive mayor Karl Dean allowed anti-homeless laws to pass, but a coalition of downtown businesses and condominiums have started putting up a series of signs to discourage people from giving money to panhandlers. These signs, which are on full view in many establishments around the Broadway area, advise tourists and urbanites to "Please Help: Don't Give."
City Hall has also banned panhandling after dark, and made it illegal to request help near residences, schools, businesses and ATMs. For now, it is at least still legal to request a favor of your fellow citizen in the middle of the Cumberland River at high noon.
Police have also been asked to crack down on the homeless, and have begun enforcing the 50 dollar fines that can be levied for asking for panhandling. One can imagine the surprise of many homeless who, instead of being told a simple "no" when asking for money, are actually given a 50 dollar ticket.
Certainly, simply giving money to the homeless is not the answer to the broad social problem of homelessness. It is usually not mere financial destitution that causes homelessness - much more is at issue. However, when it comes to the lowest necessary level of survival, there are many nights when the homeless can simply not wait for more long-term solutions that might come from charities or government programs, especially since many individuals might not even know how to access that kind of assistance.
Not only has the supposedly progressive mayor Karl Dean allowed anti-homeless laws to pass, but a coalition of downtown businesses and condominiums have started putting up a series of signs to discourage people from giving money to panhandlers. These signs, which are on full view in many establishments around the Broadway area, advise tourists and urbanites to "Please Help: Don't Give."
City Hall has also banned panhandling after dark, and made it illegal to request help near residences, schools, businesses and ATMs. For now, it is at least still legal to request a favor of your fellow citizen in the middle of the Cumberland River at high noon.
Police have also been asked to crack down on the homeless, and have begun enforcing the 50 dollar fines that can be levied for asking for panhandling. One can imagine the surprise of many homeless who, instead of being told a simple "no" when asking for money, are actually given a 50 dollar ticket.
Certainly, simply giving money to the homeless is not the answer to the broad social problem of homelessness. It is usually not mere financial destitution that causes homelessness - much more is at issue. However, when it comes to the lowest necessary level of survival, there are many nights when the homeless can simply not wait for more long-term solutions that might come from charities or government programs, especially since many individuals might not even know how to access that kind of assistance.
Be the first to comment on this story