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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Local Scene Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us January 20, 2006 at length Care for homeless, cite panhandlers By Lester Ingber Ashland I am glad that problems in Ashland concerning panhandlers and homeless people are getting some recent attention. Perhaps before this issue gets buried (again), something constructive can be done? The problems of homeless people in the city and the problems of panhandling overlap, but not completely. There are many reasons people become homeless. A more perfect caring society would always help such people obtain sheltered environments, obtain food and necessities of life, and help them to become self-sufficient whenever possible. Unfortunately, we just do not live in such a perfect society. But, in a city that pronounces itself so caring about world events, surely we can try to do something constructive on our local level. Panhandling is a blight in many cities, including Ashland. The awful truth is that this activity helps panhandlers the most who can act most pitiful or who can intimidate others the most. This activity does not necessarily help those who truly need aid immediately for survival. Panhandling is bad for Ashland. Panhandling attracts other undesirable people to the city, including drug peddlers and hustlers of all types. Most certainly, violent crime will increase if these problems are not checked soon. Many local residents avoid walking downtown to not be accosted by panhandlers and hustlers. Don't you think many tourists will think twice about coming to Ashland to visit after they are accosted? Ashland should pass constitutional ordinances outlawing panhandling. Some cities have gotten rid of these problems. I am not sure exactly how they have done this, but I would be willing to work with other residents to see how we can develop such laws. I would expect the Ashland Police to strictly enforce such laws, albeit this would offend those people who do not want the police to enforce anything but the most serious violations. We must outlaw actions of people who interfere with our right to privacy and enjoyment of our city. But, we should not simply outlaw people who visually offend us. We should develop programs to increase substantial aid to these people. This cannot be realistically accomplished by tapping random people on the street, or cajoling some wealthy donor to apply a short-term quick fix. These problems must be approached as a government project, i.e., representing the wealth of the city. I would opt for a tax specifically to increase funding for local charities, preferably some kind of sales tax. It is always hard to raise any taxes, but the alternative of not addressing these problems is a threat to our city. I would earmark most of these new funds to develop work programs, and only those reasonably ascertained to be mentally or physically incapable of performing such work would get direct aid. The program has to be limited, else we would become a magnet for the country's problems, but at least we can do something substantial and positive. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Merchant Account Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Sportsbook Absinthe Supply Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations Hammocks Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino King of Spirits Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams