We hope that the incident described in this post will not deter anyone from helping people. But we agree with our reader, Edith, who sent us this information that this incident is rather disturbing. Here’s what happened to Edith on Saturday morning at the 46th Street El stop:
“I just wanted to give everyone a heads-up. This morning a little before 9:00 a man approached me going into the El station and asked for money. He said he had just gotten out of prison and needed a dollar to get to his mom’s house. When I said I didn’t have any money, he followed me towards the stairs and hit me across the back of my head.
I wasn’t hurt (he mostly got my ponytail) but I am concerned that something similar could happen to someone else with more serious results. I have seen the same man (African-American, middle-aged, clean-shaven, slight build and around 5’8″) other weekend mornings, so I would encourage everyone to exercise caution.”
May 5th, 2013 at 12:53 pm
Uh… maybe it *should* deter people from “helping” panhandlers. When in doubt, don’t interact with strangers begging for money. Let’s not let our middle class guilt get in the way of common sense and self-preservation.
May 5th, 2013 at 1:28 pm
I agree. Supporting a lifestyle of begging isn’t helping anyone.
May 5th, 2013 at 2:15 pm
First of all neither one of you are probably middle class, additionally we only have half the story. Anyone with common sense should know to exercise caution in this area in general, panhandlers are not necessarily part of that caution but they can be. If you are really looking for an excuse to not help people look no further than your own personal greed rather than letting society give you a lousy excuse. Your privilege is showing.
May 5th, 2013 at 2:46 pm
“First of all neither one of you are probably middle class”
How did you derive that conclusion, Holmes?
On the privilege front, you’re absolutely right. I have so much privilege I hardly know where to put it all. That said, choosing to interact or not interact with panhandlers is not a question of privilege or greed (surely donating money to charities is no different from giving to panhandlers from a “privilege” or “greed” perspective). It’s a question of personal safety.
May 7th, 2013 at 11:53 am
I help people all the time. Handing money to abusive bums with no desire to work isn’t helping them. It’s hurting them.
May 7th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
Most organizations who advocate and work with the homeless do not suggest giving cash to panhandlers. Greed and privilege has nothing to do with it, and personal safety is only one concern. Better to donate your change (or time) to an organization to help the poor. See: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/03/should-you-give-money-to-homeless-people/72820/#
May 7th, 2013 at 8:49 pm
I highly recommend St. John’s Hospice, which is on Race Street and does terrific work with homeless men: http://www.saintjohnshospice.org/
May 7th, 2013 at 6:25 am
First let me state that every area in this city is shady, that being said carry mace. Call the police and report it. Things like this happen everywhere and worse. Someone is always getting robbed in the university city , walnut hill, spruce hill areas not just at 46th and market
May 5th, 2013 at 2:19 pm
I hope you called the police. Glad you are ok.
May 5th, 2013 at 10:41 pm
I’m glad you’re ok, but I agree, please call the police – or at least the Septa police – someone needs to know about this so they can look out for him and make sure something worse doesn’t happen to someone else.
May 5th, 2013 at 4:16 pm
If you want to help people in need, contribute to Philabundance.org
If you see people engaged in aggressive begging, call 911.
I’m sick of seeing the same small group of people circulating through our neighborhood, alternatively drinking, screaming at passerby and invading young women’s personal space. These people need professional assistance, not more beer money to further enable their habit.
May 5th, 2013 at 7:32 pm
thx, nw. i do sometimes wonder if the people that give the Supremo entrance/exit door guy money know it goes to beer–and enough of it that he has shown me his penis more than once while peeing on the street.
May 7th, 2013 at 8:57 pm
Good thing it wasn’t going to asparagus.
May 5th, 2013 at 7:52 pm
I’m not sure why this should deter anyone from helping someone – this person that was attacked didn’t help the person that attacked her. She was hit in the back of the head and you really can’t predict that happening or prevent it really unless you grow eyes in the back of your head (and even then, no guarantees!). Basically this incident stresses the need for being aware of your surroundings – get off your ipad, ipod, i-anything, and be in the present. It’s an unfortunate situation. This week alone I was threatened by two different people who I’m assuming had mental health issues as I walked on the sidewalk. Both yelled similar messages, something along the lines of slapping me for, dunno, just being there?! Is that going to prevent me from walking down the sidewalk?? No, of course it won’t. Let’s exercise good judgement people, and not go crazy.
This should be reported to the police and a formal report made, mostly because you have seen this individual around and he could do it to someone else.
May 5th, 2013 at 8:17 pm
This guy approached me outside the Wells Fargo ATM at 40th and Chestnut last Sunday around 8:30. My card was in the machine when he came around the corner. The first thing out of his mouth was, “Excuse me sir, I just got out of prison and I need dollar for the bus.” I was pretty sure I was about to get mugged but I’m a pretty big dude… He scoffed when I said I didn’t have any money. I remember thinking he was dumb to believe me, considering I was at an ATM.
May 7th, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Unless that ATM dispensed $1 bills, you weren’t wrong
May 5th, 2013 at 9:14 pm
next time shoot it in the face
May 6th, 2013 at 8:55 am
I don’t give panhandlers money, ever, not after watching one panhandler curse out a group of people who didn’t give her anything and then watched her walk down the street, turn towards a wall and count the WAD of cash she was carrying.
May 6th, 2013 at 1:01 pm
You can exercise all the caution you want, but sometimes bad things just happen. I’m glad you weren’t seriously hurt, and I hope you’ll get the chance to report him so more people are aware and on their guard.
Homelessness and mental illness can go hand-in-hand and there are a number of regular panhandlers in the neighborhood who don’t feel like safe people to be near. One option is to get a walking escort from Penn Bike Patrol if you’re walking at night and feel unsafe. Unfortunately, the service isn’t available in the morning.