I absolutely hate going into walgreens in downtown! There is always someone outside asking for money. I have even been stopped by a gentleman in a wheelchair as I was almost ready to drive away from dunkin donuts downtown!

Sharon
This guy in the wheelchair is nothing but a big pain in the BUTT! no pun intended, the Salem police had to be called to stop this guy, he approached me about three times i gave him zero, he also lives in a not so shabby place too, the last time he came out to me when i was about to leave i like you was in my truck,he pulled up real fast and asked he if i could help him, i told him that i that i knew that he had problems with the police and that i thought i too should call the police, well Sharon with that said i never saw a wheelchair move so fast in my life, i thought he had rockets on the back of the chair. If any one reading this is ever approached by him or any other one like him don't cave in they might be doing better than you just saying, it wont help the pan handling!

The Walgreens on New Derby Street is really the WORST for panhandling & loitering!
NO, I don't have any money! NO, I don't have a cigarette for you! No, I am not paying for your bus fare!

The best rule to follow is if you want to help the homeless is to donate to a shelter or an organization that is known to help those in need. More often than not by giving directly to the homeless you only help feed whatever issue caused them to be homeless in the first place. My wife and I used to try to help until we started offering to buy food for the homeless rather than just giving them money. When someone requested money "for a cup of coffee" etc we'd offer to buy them the coffee or the sandwich etc. You wouldn't believe how often this approach incited anger in the person begging. After experiencing this type of behavior from the homeless we stopped giving money directly to the homeless. At this point the only time I end up giving money to the homeless is when they have a dog or other pet. I do this because I know the pet is not at fault and my main concern is to get some food into the pet.

I believe the guy Leo is referring to has the bright orange flag on his motorized scooter (he must plug it in somewhere right?). He is aggressive and will often not allow you to get out of your car due to the way he positions his chair. He is frequently harassing my wife and others as they exit the YMCA and at intersections throughout the city. Some of the comments begs a peculiar question, why do most Walgreens attach these types of folks and most CVS's do not? Something must be done with this guy.

Spare change? Money i don't need? Oh yeah i have plenty of that.
I also avoid walgreens on derby street because of the panhandlers but they are all over downtown. It's time for an ordinance.

Also, who has change/cash anymore? I NEVER have any on me EVER.

Why are the Homeless allowed to congregate like that in front of Walgreens? Doesn't Walgreens have the right to ask the police to remove people from their property? I assume standing in their vestibule is their property... I understand if they're at the bus stop (their urinal...), that's different.

Also, has anyone run into this very polite and gracious black fellow. He's in his late 20s or early 30s, reasonably well kept and says that his car ran out of gas. I'm always wondering if he was legitimately out of gas or if people have run into him. He was on Washington St the only time I saw him.
His demeanor and story were reasonably well thought out and potentially legitimate. Though after giving him a few bucks, a lady advised me to 'watch out for that guy'

I told her if all the homeless were that polite and nice and gracious about panhandling, they'd get more money from me.

That being said, looking back I wish I'd just offered to go get him some gas myself. See his story out.

Salem = Mecca for bums. Thank you Reverend horndog Navale. Your legacy lives.

There are a few 'regulars' that pan handle around Derby Square and Walgreens - because I work in that area they are the only ones I know and so I cannot speak to other parts of town.
The worst is the man, I guess his name is Leo, who has the orange flagged motorized wheelchair. He will wait for someone to park and will then trap them in their driver's seat by putting his chair against the car door - forcing a confrontation or donation. I've called the police on this man more than once.
There is another man in a regular wheelchair who pushes himself backwards with one foot. He harasses the customers at the Shanty by just wheeling by them very slowly asking each and every diner for money. He is always sent away by security staff, always.
There are also reoccurring themes, "I just need one more dollar for train fare" "I've lost my Charlie Card" or "I need a little money for gas to get home"
As a woman, I have a personal pet peeve against panhandlers who call me 'sir' - funny and sad I guess.
Truly, this is part of my daily life. Daily, I am in Klop Alley. Daily, I am either solicited for money OR harassed by the drunk homeless folks who congregate around the public bathroom on Artist's Row.
An ordinance against panhandling would be a wonderful start to solving these problems.

Hashmirs guide to keeping sanity
1. Approach Walgreens
2. Make eye contact with bum
3. Demand change
4. Laugh while walking away
5. Enjoy newly purchased items
6. Post info on patch

It's not illegal to ask for money. All aggressive panhandling should be reported to the police. While we can't stop panhandlers, we can dry up their supply through public education initiatives and giving meters. These meters have been used successfully in other cities, such as Atlanta, which has seen a decrease in the number of panhandlers as a result. It tells visitors that panhandling does not help the homeless/needy and it is not accepted in our community. If they want to help the homeless/needy, they can deposit money in the meter and it will be donated to Lifebridge, for example. Put them in key panhandling areas of the city. They look like this: http://www.atlantadowntown.com/go/giving-meter-americasmart-

Walgreens needs to have someone enforce the no loitering rule in front of there store. It's appalling. I feel bad for young women and men who need to walk into that store on a rainy day. People are blocking the entrance, EVERYONE is asking for money/cigarettes and people are downright rude when you ignore them. I have no problem telling someone to "stick it", however many people do. This leads to them "donating" money out of fear, this is completely unexceptable and needs to be addressed.

I have also been approached by the man in the wheelchair, the non-motorized one. He would ask me for money as I walked by him on Lafayette St., and when I would give him some change he would say he wanted more! I couldn't believe it. There is also a woman I've seen waiting outside the Bank of America on Washington St. and I have given her change for the bus before when I saw her on Lafayette St. I no longer give money to these people because I have come to realize what the rest of the commenters have, but I moved to Salem as a teenager from a small town in NH so I was none the wiser at first! Also, about the man in the wheelchair, my friend had to push him across Washington St. before because he sat in the middle and refused to move and she didn't want him to get hit! He didn't even say a word to her, she was really freaked out. After that, we would always see him around the city on our lunch break and would have to take the long way to avoid him because she was scared of him.

@Jared. Take a look at the link below. This guy had been harassing me and friends and many more with the same question and same excuses. His stories had ranged from running out of gas to offering to sell me his EBT card. After the last exchange between him and I, I saw this article the very next morning. Thankfully this bad guy is off the streets!
http://salem.patch.com/articles/salem-man-arrested-for-trying-to-steal-purse-at-busy-intersection#comments_list

Donating out of fear? Whoever does that should focus on their own problems more. Panhandling happens everywhere. It's worse in big cities and far worse in more oppressed parts of the country. Be thankful for your blessings, focus on your own life, and avoid passing judgement as some of these comments have not done.

James, that is crazy. This gentleman has a dangerous past and people should be quite vigilant of him.

Is there a direct number to call and report people who harass you for money - or just the regular SPD number? We work in Boston and getting off the train in Salem usually ends in a couple of pan handlers. I had a younger guy - guessing to be in his mid 20s, follow me all the way to my car in the middle of the lot which made me really nervous. It's always the same people asking for money to "get on the train". We watched this same 20-something ask for money from numerous people, then walk right up the stairs and onto Washington Street. So much for the train ride fare he was begging for only moments ago...

Diggs, apparently your not shy, that's a good thing. The thing is, many people are and it's those peoe who get frightened by overly aggressive people asking for money. Panhandling does happen everywhere, you are correct. It's the aggressive ones (and after reading ALL of these comments, it's clear the location I am talking about is aggressive) that I am talking about. Oh, thanks for the tip on my life.....

when panhandlers approach me for money or ciggaretts a just simply tell them to get a job. not only does that shut them up but they go away too.. walgreens isnot the only hot spot watch out when using the atms downtown and on derby st. the hess station is anothe place they mooch.

Anyone you see on a wheelchair gets a disability check, don't give them a dime! They always have large coffees from Starbucks and look pleasantly plump! Steve is the name of the guy who talks slow and says "can you help me? "My husband always yells "Steve quit beggin!" The BS needs to stop!

Please don't forget about the pan handlers at the HESS on New Derby. They deserve as much credit as the Walgreens parasites.

Let's be realistic people, the problem isn't going away too soon. Tell these folks NO! Should they block you, "I'm calling the police"! It works for me!

The panhandling in salem is awful. Its not so much in the immediate downtown area as it is right off of that. At all Walgreens stores, I get harassed all the time "for a dolla" or a quarter. At the Depot, these people get aggressive and do NOT follow personal space boundaries. By Los Amigos market and uphill from the Wendys, theres a guy in a wheelchair who just holds out his hand and doesn't say anything. He's grabbed my clothes before to stop me. He also is nasty. He throws things, including Wendy's shakes and drinks, and swears at people if they don't stop or if they give him what change they do have. He's also gotten up out of his wheelchair and chased people short distances. This is a huge problem in salem.

Alex stop exaggerating! That person does not walk at all. That's a fact! I know him. Now let's be truthful here.

Att: Mayor Driscoll - we know you or your staff is reading this. Please address this, you have a problem. Maybe focus on this instead of the Halloween parade or another Segway tour opening

@Bill, your comment was posted 48 mins ago, therefore her staff won't see until tomorrow morning. ;)

I haven't seen many panhandlers but I did see a guy on a Segway zipping across the street yesterday.

Does anyone know where the term "Pan Handler" comes from?

I guess puting your arm out resembles a pan handle,the hand being the pan to put the money in.

the laundromat on Boston St. near Federal is also a hot spot for people wanting change for cigarettes.

I've often seen the guy in the wheelchair on the road to the left of Walgreen's on Boston St. and there was another man who approached me at the entrance who grumbled something to me when I did not acknowledge him and then there is this woman when I went to the laundromat also on Boston St. who I witnessed asking every patron for 75 cents so that she could finish her laundry...funny thing was...there was no laundry, but that didn't seem to matter to her...recently I saw that she moved her location to Walgreen's and like others have said I will just go elsewhere rather than be approached by strangers who are lying and have the nerve to get angry when you simply say no...also as others have said, it's best to purchase the item they are asking for and If that doesn't make them happy, you know they want the money for alcohol and/or drugs which only adds to further problems for all.

Eliminate police details and train these people to be safety/flag people at road construction sites ? Easy Fix, put them to work, give them a weeks pay and healthcare benefits. If we took all the unemployed and the state re-trained for needed positions, to fill in for trainable skills the state and private industry needs. This would be a win/win for Massachusetts, maybe the Governor and Obama can work out a Public Works project similar to the WPA of the past. Oh yeah, that would be too easy. Let's let the Fed print more money, give it to the banks for them to sit on and start up quantitative easing again, yeah, that works ?

One-foot-backwards guy at Lafayette and Harbor was one that I always felt a bit bad for until about three years ago, when I was walking towards downtown and he yelled, "give me a dollar!" in a very aggressive tone. Every time I see him I yell random demonstrative statements at him in both in Spanish and English, for example, "dareme un peso!", "Don't stand in traffic!", and "Si tu quieres dinero, aprender engles mejor" and "go @!0$% off".....sadly, I believe my humor may be lost on him.

This may sound a bit crazy...but we as residents/taxpayers can peacefully organize and make the panhandlers feel as uncomfortable as the residents and tourists feel while in Salem. Why not make signs and literally stand next to the 'hot spots' in Salem. The signs could say, "Do not give these people money. If you would like to help people in need, please donate money to Lifebridge." and give the appropriate information for Lifebridge donations. (I think the meters are a fantastic idea) A group of us could literally follow folks around. We would be doing nothing illegal whatsoever. I wonder how long they would last? We can wait and work through our own gov't for an ordinance, but in the meantime we can also fight for our right to go to Walgreens/car/shanty without being accosted.

Can't say that I hate the idea.

Was downtown this bad with homeless and panhandlers before the shelter moved from Crombie Street to Margin? I honestly can't remember this many homeless hanging around downtown before then.... but I guess the economy has changed drastically as well. Some mornings, I actually lock the doors in my car as I drive thru downtown ... there are so many homeless hanging around after the shelter kicks them out for the day.. I can only imagine how visitors to our city feel.

No one has mentioned the group of clearly drunk homeless who hang out at Pickering Wharf all day, along the dock. I can't believe the people who live there put up with it. Public drinking, occasional fighting and yelling.

Funny how the topic of crime has been diverted to panhandlers.
I'll take a guy coming at me in a wheelchair over a guy coming at me with a Machette any day.

FYI, The wonderful law makers and the courts have found it to be unconstitutional to have laws/ordinances against this type of activity. I have talked to the police concerning this issue and they are working on a remedy. I have been told that the two guys in the wheel chairs have been issued citations for loitering ordinance violations. They tell me that they have arrested the guys in front of Walgreens on New Derby Street several times for drinking in public. The police have been some what handcuffed by the law makers...

Benefit v. Cambridge, 424 Mass. 918 (1997).

The Patch article cited above about Mr. Evans shows a correction now indicating that he was not in fact arrested for "panhandling", as the police cannot charge for that crime, but for the many other crimes he committed. Benefit v. Cambridge indeed, as Billie O'Connor found above, cites over 80 years of US Supreme Court cases to hold that "peaceful begging" is constitutionally protected. Drinking in public and trespassing to panhandle on private property are still arrestable offenses.