During a sunny morning this week on the city’s Far Eastside, frigid temperatures had people scrambling to get into the warmth of their cars.
Yet, a tall, slender, man in a brown coat with a calm, pleasant face and a beard, bravely endured the arctic-like onslaught as he stood at a corner near Pendleton Pike and I-465, holding a sign saying, “Please, anything helps. May God bless you.”
For the African-American man, who gave his name as Larry, panhandling at this intersection is part of a daily routine.
“I’m out here at least an hour every day,” Larry said, after pulling a scarf down from his face. He declined to give his last name out of concern for his family’s safety.
Larry is among hundreds of individuals who have taken to the streets of Indianapolis to panhandle, which Indiana law defines as “a vocal solicitation involving a request for an immediate donation of money or other gratuity.”
In other words, panhandlers can be found asking for money or quietly waiting for solicitations. They may be seen holding signs near street corners, holding a cup in front of a downtown establishment or walking up to customers at a busy gas station.
Due to factors such as high traffic and conveniently located places where they can stay warm, several panhandlers can often be found in the same area. One of the best-known examples include the central location of the Indianapolis Public Library and the nearby American Legion Mall.
“We have quite a few of them who come here,” said William Anthony Hines, a security officer at the Central Library Branch. “It doesn’t matter what the weather is. The library has listed panhandling along with the other activity it prohibits, but that doesn’t seem to stop them.”
Some city officials have expressed concern that certain forms of panhandling can discourage economic activity and damage the city’s image.
Mayor Greg Ballard’s administration has made curtailing panhandling a priority, encouraging people to place money in donation boxes downtown instead of giving money to panhandlers.
“We have to get a handle on solicitation, because this is hurting our economy,” Ballard said in a statement.
In an earlier interview Chris Gahl, a spokesman for the local tourism organization, Visit Indy, stated, “the perception is panhandling equals an unsafe city.”
Since last spring, the City-County Council has worked on a proposal updating the city’s panhandling ordinance. In 2000, the council first passed legislation to regulate panhandling, which is actually legal under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
What is illegal is aggressive panhandling, which includes touching a person, blocking their path, walking closely alongside or behind them, using profane language or making an intimidating gesture or statement. Aggressive panhandling is a Class C misdemeanor.
On the other hand, passive solicitation, such as quietly sitting and holding a sign or holding a cup of change, is protected under the law.
“That’s why I don’t move,” said Larry. “I just stand still or stay seated.”
If there is such a thing as a panhandling hot spot, Larry’s corner is it. Commuters who regularly drive down the southbound exit ramp where he stands frequently hand out cash, food and encouragement.
“Some have handed out Christmas gifts,” Larry said, a smile quickly flashing across his friendly but tired face.
In December, a committee on the City-County Council passed, by a 5-2 vote, a new ordinance that would ban solicitation within 50 feet of a marked crosswalk, an ATM, a bank, check cashing establishment, parking meters and pay stations, public parking garages, restaurants and bus stations and stops.
Introduced by Republican Jeff Miller and Democrat Vop Osili, who both have districts that include downtown, the new measure was stalled after igniting opposition from local musicians who often make money performing in the same outdoor public places.
“Right now we are working with arts and homeless organizations as well as other stakeholders to arrive at a reasonable resolution and look to reintroduce an amendment next month,” Miller said.
Last year, Miller, Osili and leaders of local civic and homeless organizations visited Raleigh and San Antonio to examine how those cities reduced panhandling, which included use of permits and creation of “no-panhandling” zones.
Instead of adopting measures like those, council members decided to address instances where panhandling may make the public feel unsafe or vulnerable.
“The term that is used is ‘implicitly coercive,’ where a person may feel pressured by a panhandler, especially near places where financial transactions take place,” Miller said.
He added that it is not right to judge panhandlers as dangerous, but that any new measure will ensure that they do not make individuals feel uncomfortable. He gave the example of someone standing with a cup near people using an ATM.
“They’re not doing anything to you, they don’t have a knife, they’re not growling at you, and not even talking to you. So are they dangerous? No, not really,” Miller said. “But is it a little coercive? Yeah, probably. You have your wallet out at the ATM and someone is saying ‘I am starving and I need your money.’ It’s not fair to put someone in that situation.”
Experts say some panhandlers are actually homeless and facing hardship, while others see what they do as an easy, uncomplicated way to make money.
Larry would not say how he ended up homeless, saying only, “it was self-inflicted.”
For three years, he has lived under a bridge near the highway.
Miller said community organizations play a key role in ensuring that long-term solutions are put in place so that those who are truly homeless can develop stability.
Larry agrees, but has also had individuals who have offered their assistance. The owner of a nearby Hardee’s restaurant has offered him a job cleaning equipment, and the owner of a Meineke muffler shop plans to house him in a newly refurbished garage behind a nearby home.
“I’ve been patient and law abiding, but it’s time to move forward and the Lord has sent people to help make that happen,” Larry said.
