Beggars in Malibu....What do we do? What should we do?

I don't know about the rest of you living in Malibu but I have seen a little spike lately in the consistency of people sitting at corners holding signs, Heathercliff and PCH, Cross Creek and PCH (on the median), or sitting at exits like at the Pt. Dume Plaza on Heathercliff.

It has got me thinking.  People with signs asking for money is certainly nothing new...I just don't know what is the best way to handle the dilemma that unfolds...so, I ask you...what do you think?  Should Malibu take efforts to eliminate this or is this something we should embrace and confront on a daily basis?  What should we do, what do you do?

My 16 year old sons says that we shouldn't be bothered at all by their presence and we should make every effort to give when we can.  When he was about 13 we were at a zoo in Houston and a man (who I think was faking) had a sign saying he was blind and he was walking through the zoo soliciting funds.  To my 13 year old son, money was a precious commodity, something to be hoarded, yet, it happened to be one of those rare times when he had a couple of dollars in his pocket.  He gave the man a 5 dollar bill.  I witnessed this and gave a mental "fistpump", way to go son!, even though I knew that the man was probably scamming him.  Save your cynicism for later and just see it in the simplest terms, when you are young, at least.  I was more than happy that he was thinking unselfishly, even when he had very little money.

But, is that the best policy to have?  Where do we draw the line?  Do we draw a line?  If people are walking along the beach at Little Dume or Zuma asking for money is that going too far?  Are there better ways to give to the needy that don't encourage street solicitation?,  Or are we insensitive to be bothered in the least by the sight and actions of someone less fortunate?  What do you think?

Now, I am not so sure....just last week I was at the gas station at Pt. Dume and a familiar face came up to me saying that he had run out of gas and could I spare some money.  He was a perfectly healthy looking guy in his late 20's.  I remembered him from about 6 months ago where I had seen him at the Chevron at Chautauqua down the highway in Santa Monica.  He did the same thing there.  I put 5 bucks in his car then and I was hesitant this time until I saw a young woman in the car.  I didn't have the heart to turn (her) down.  I put in 3 bucks this time.  He denied knowing anything about our last encounter but there was no doubt about it.  He is only one story and doesn't represent all street solicitors but he has obviously found that this technique works.

There are more than a few ways to look at it.  These people are down on their luck, and you might want to make their day a little better by giving them a dollar or two.  Another way is to see that this constant soliciting of funds can create a very profitable cottage industry where motivation to get a job is removed, or at least, delayed.  It could bring more people to our corners.  Should we care if that happens?  Every one decides for themselves. 

I know there is a lot of mental illness on the streets.  My sister in law is schizophrenic and I know what that looks like.  These people aren't going to get jobs.  They are in bad shape.  What do we do?  But, some of these people look quite fit.  My cousin was mentally challenged yet he worked at Lockheed for 30 years, had his own apartment though he couldn't drive.  He took the bus everywhere he went and was very self sufficient.  You would know in 2 minutes that he was different from you and me, yet, he was financially independent.

When Emma Lazurus penned these words that were later placed at the foot of the Statue of Liberty, did she have these people in mind?

"Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"