CCC votes to fund 3-month pilot security patrol

Today I attended the Center City Commission monthly board meeting, for which one of the agenda items was to vote on funding for a 3-month private security patrol to deter panhandling. As I entered the building, TV stations were interviewing people affiliated with the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center and members of the homeless community who were protesting. As the meeting started, the protestors came inside, as is their right to do at a public meeting.

Community members on both sides of the issue were given the opportunity to voice their opinions. Jacob Flowers, head of the MSPJC, expressed his opposition to the security patrol due to concerns that area homeless would be harassed. Then Mike King, co-founder of the Handling-Panhandling forum, shared his experiences and frustrations as a Downtown resident who is panhandled aggressively on a near daily basis. After many questions from CCC board members, the vote was taken and the funding for the security patrol was approved.

Some notes I took at the meeting:

– The pilot program will run from April 1 to June 30. After that, the data that has been gathered will be studied to determine if security patrols would be helpful on a long-term basis to curb aggressive panhandling.

– The cost of the 3-month program will be $53,340. That was not the lowest bid, but the bid was given to security firm CDA because they are 100% minority-owned and because they provide 2 to 3 times as much training to their security people as does Brownard, who submitted the lowest bid.

– In addition to the 30+ hours of training provided by CDA, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department will provide 24 hours of additional training.

– The recommendation made by the CCC’s safety committee is that security be unarmed. The cost quoted above is for unarmed security people, and would be substantially higher if they were armed. “Armed” means carrying a firearm. The security people are licensed to carry batons, pepper spray, and tasers, and the committee is studying whether it would be appropriate for them to carry any of those. (My personal feeling, not expressed in the meeting, is NO.)

– The money to fund the security patrol does not come from taxpayer dollars. Rather, it comes from the CCC budget, assessed from Downtown businesses. If the patrol proves successful and the decision is made to continue beyond the 3-month pilot, the CCC may consider pursuing private funding.

– Security company is required to have liability insurance in the amount of $1 million per incident, $5 million aggregate.

– There will be 2 security shifts per day, with 2 security people working each, from 8 AM to 9 PM Sunday-Thursday and 8 AM to 11 PM Friday-Saturday.

– During the pilot, security will focus on the Main Street Mall between Adams and Beale. (Although, I intend to have a talk with the CCC about this; south of Monroe, panhandling is a much bigger problem on Second than Main.)

– The intent is for security to act as a deterrent more than a means of enforcement. Similar programs have been operated in other cities (Sundance Square in Fort Worth was mentioned) and generally, the mere presence of security was enough to shoo panhandlers from the area. It was stressed that these will be security personnel, not officers.

– A story was told of a reporter who went undercover last week and panhandled in Court Square. He was approached by a panhandler who told him, “Hey, you’re in my territory.” The undercover reporter got to talking to the panhandler, and he revealed that he lives in the Exchange Building and receives a monthly disability check from the government. He panhandles to supplement his income.

So it looks like the patrols will start April 1. Although I was on the opposite side of the issue than the MSPJC, I do understand their concerns and hope to open a productive dialogue with Mr. Flowers (who I just approved for membership on the Handling-Panhandling list). I will keep an eye on the situation, and if I witness harassment of the homeless by the security patrols, you better believe it’s gonna be reported on this blog. Hopefully, though, they’ll deliver as promised and rid Downtown of some of its most aggressive, obnoxious panhandlers, improving the quality of life for all the rest of us Downtown, homeless included.

Great article

Great article in this morning’s Commercial Appeal on the proposed security patrol Downtown to try and curb panhandling.  The CCC votes whether to fund the patrol today.  The article did a great job explaining that the goal is not to harass the homeless, but to deter the aggressive panhandlers who cuss and threaten people who do not give them money.

(edited to add:  Great editorial on panhandling today too.)

Friday update

Wednesday night as I was leaving Itta Bena, I saw this on EP Delta Kitchen’s sign:

“Dead Rock Star Costume Ball April 3”

Hmmm… that could be fun.  So many choices.  John Lennon?  Jim Morrison?  Elvis?  Jimi Hendrix?  Kurt Cobain?  And many more to choose from.

This weekend is Zydeco Fest on Beale Street, which always brings some interesting-looking people to the area.  Beale will be the place to be for people-watching this weekend.  There will also be a lot of people from out of town for the Memphis-Tennessee game.

We’ve already made plans to watch the game, and managed to get two tables reserved at the Saucer.  They told us that at least half of us would have to get there at least two hours early to secure the reservation.  So I’m going to have to sit at a bar and drink beer for over four hours???  Heavens to Betsy, how will I ever manage that?

Two of the better bands that play the Saucer play this weekend:  The West Tennessee Wife Swappers (tonight) and FreeWorld (Sat).  Also, a little advance notice:  Next Thursday THE DEMPSEYS will play!

Meanwhile, this weekend is the grand opening of a new club, the Red Rooster, down the street from the Westin.  A group of us plan to check it out tonight.  We’re going to meet up at Hoop’s Bar around 9 and then head to the Rooster at 10.  Will post a report on the place this weekend hopefully.

If you’re curious about the new restaurant Onix on South Main in the old Zanzibar spot, watch or record “Definitely Downtown!” with That Other Downtown Guy, Lee Warren, on ABC24 at 12:30 AM Sunday.  They’ll have a feature on Calhoun’s sports bar as well.

The Folk Alliance is holding their big convention in Memphis this weekend, and there will be a Musicians’ Showcase at the Center for Southern Folklore tonight and tomorrow.  Cover is $10 per night and gets you general admission access to both stages.  Whew!  Lots going on this weekend, lots to choose from…

Charlie Wood plays the Westin lobby tonight from 5:30 to 7:30.

Last night I arrived at the Saucer about 5:15, and the waitress who calls me her “BFF” came running up to me.  “Paul, look!” she said, and pointed to her left.  I looked and saw a woman sitting on a bench.  “No, the chalkboard!” she told me.  And there I saw the most beautiful words in the English language:  “$2.75 Fire Sale – DOS EQUIS SPECIAL LAGER.”  Needless to say I had quite a few of those.  I was somewhat irritated at having to interrupt my Special Lager drinking to get two crap beers out of the way en route to my second plate.

Before I get to the beer report, I have a question about this “BFF” thing:  If my Best Friend Forever is a girl, am I still allowed to look up her skirt?

Previous total:  $268.75

Beers 52, 53, and 54 (but 49, 50, and 51 according to the Saucer):
Dos Equis Special Lager Fire Sale $2.75
Michelob Light $3.50
Michelob Ultra $3.50
Tip:  $9.75 x ~30% = $3.00
Total:  $12.75

Grand total:  $281.50

Time for work, gotta run!

Links

How-To of the Day:  How to Not Be Annoying.  I’m going to print out several copies of this and take them to the bar this afternoon to hand out to people.

In the news:  Some Tennessee lawmakers want to make it illegal to text while driving.  GREAT IDEA!!!

Here’s an article on a man who is selling his Tigers vs. UT tickets to pay for his son’s tuition.  Never realized it, but college basketball tickets are becoming something of a futures market.  Who would’ve thought at the beginning of the season that this game would be #1 vs. #2?

Friday update: Safari, alley parties, homeless help, beer, and more

Several people e-mailed to tell me that the Safari Tapas Bar I asked about a couple of days ago is being opened by Mr. Divine who recently opened the upscale Divine Rags clothing store at Main and Pontotoc.  After receiving those e-mails, I realized I reported about Safari a month ago in my own blog… geez.  Beer really does kill brain cells.

According to the Memphis Business Journal, alley parties are coming back Downtown.  A group called Downtown Works plans to throw two alley parties this year in the alley next to the building that used to be Sleep Out Louie’s.  The partnership focuses on bringing office workers back Downtown and plans to hold parties from 5:00-6:30 PM April 24 and October 2.

Got a favor to ask my readers.  Someone suggested, as a result of my post yesterday on homelessness and panhandling, that I add a page listing all the places Downtown where the homeless can get help.  This could include links to places like the Mission where people can donate, and could also include listings of soup kitchens or other outreach programs that give away free meals.  I’ve actually been meaning to do that for a while but life has intervened… if you know if items I should include on such a page could you e-mail me at paul@paulryburn.com.  All I ask is that you are sure that the information is current (e.g. not from the panhandling pamphlet the CCC used to pass out, which is 4 years old).

This is outside my normal Downtown realm, but after posting the other day about Boscos wholesaling beer at its Main and Crump location, a reader e-mailed to inform me about a new beer at its Midtown Boscos Squared restaurant, Shaft on Draft.  This is a limited edition beer which will only be available in late February and early March.  It’s brewed in support of Staxtacular, the annual fundraiser for the Stax Museum which is coming up on March 7.  More info about Shaft on Draft here.

And speaking of beer, it’s time for last night’s beer report:

Previous total:  $256.00

Beers 49, 50, and 51 (but 46, 47, and 48 according to the Saucer):
Rolling Rock bottle $3.00
Pyramid Hefe-Weizen bottle $4.00
Old Scratch Fire Sale (already had it but Saucer didn’t scan it) $2.75
Tip $9.75 x ~30% = $3.00
Total $12.75

Grand total:  $268.75

Time for work… busy day coming up.

Today’s CA article, homelessness, panhandling

Since I’m quoted in an article on panhandling in today’s Commercial Appeal and the URL of this blog is listed, I want to take a moment to clarify my stance on panhandling and homelessness Downtown.

In no way do I believe that the answer to the panhandling problem Downtown is to indiscriminately sweep all of the neighborhood’s street people off the streets without regard to where they came from, why they’re here, what help they need.  There are some people who take the Handling-Panhandling forum I co-founded, where we discuss problem panhandlers and problem locations for panhandling, as a crusade against the homeless.  That’s absolutely not the case.

My issue is with panhandlers Downtown who have made a career out of panhandling.  These people are able-bodied and could easily find work, but they choose to panhandle instead.  They show up for “work” every day in fresh clothes and they obviously have homes.  However, they will beg for “money to help the homeless” to play on people’s sympathy.  That’s my main problem with these guys – they’re taking advantage of the homeless by redirecting people’s generosity away from organizations that would offer legitimate help.  Donations to these people generally do not get used for food or shelter, but rather for alcohol and drugs.  I have watched these professional panhandlers beg tourists for “a donation for the homeless” over and over again until they collect enough, and then head straight to the liquor store to spend what they were given.

My other issue with this group of panhandlers is that many of them will turn to criminal activity to supplement their “incomes.”  One of the guys we photographed for the Handling-Panhandling group last summer was obviously a loose cannon.  When employees of a Beale Street restaurant asked him to stop begging in front of their door, he threatened to stab them.  A couple of months later, a couple was attacked with a crowbar Downtown in an armed robbery attempt, and a security guard who witnessed the incident was able to identify the attacker because his picture was on the Handling-Panhandling site.  The attacker is now in jail awaiting trial.  As I said, I don’t believe in indiscriminately sweeping people off the streets, but I’m sure glad we identified that guy and swept him away.

The main focus of the CA article is on a new security task force funded by the Center City Commission.  The task force will hit the streets on a trial basis beginning April 30, making first-hand contact with Downtown’s street people and panhandlers.  Over time they will get to know who’s who.  For those who truly need a hand up but don’t know how to ask for it, the task force will be able to get them assistance.  That’s key, because I think we should first look to assist.  However, they are also going to meet some people who are not homeless, pretend to be homeless in order to panhandle, and cause nothing but trouble Downtown.  The security force will identify who these people are and take steps to enforce the laws on the books against them, to show them that they don’t have free run of the streets Downtown.

Another thing:  We need to choose our words carefully.  A lot of people use “the homeless” when in fact referring to these aggressive, career panhandlers.  I’ve even heard cops do this.  I hate it when people ask “how’s your forum about the homeless going?” because it makes it sound like the forum is a crusade against the homeless, when it’s not.  Not everyone who panhandles is homeless.  In fact, I’d be willing to venture that the majority are not.

There’s another local website that uses the term “bums” to refer to all the street people they encounter.  Although I’m a fan of that site and find it quite entertaining, I think they misuse the term sometimes.  There’s a famous homeless guy Downtown who walks the streets all day scratching his beard.  He never asks anybody for anything and if you talk to him (and can get a conversation that makes sense out of him), you’ll find that he’s a really good guy.  He’s not a bum.  It offends me (and a lot of Downtowners) when people refer to him as a bum.  On the other hand there’s a guy named Tommie who wanders the streets every day, asking people for money, following them, threatening them and cussing them out when they say no.  He’s been doing it for as long as I’ve lived Downtown (6 years).  Yeah.  He’s a bum.  I have no problem calling him a bum.

Anyway… just wanted to make the point that I am not trying to start a crusade against the homeless.  It’s just that there are certain people down here who are generally not homeless but pretend to be, and who ruin the quality of life for everyone.  I love Downtown Memphis.  I am so glad I moved down here.  I want people to come here and experience what I experience.  But it burns me up when they come down here and get harrassed over and over and over by these idiots and end up telling me that they’ll never come back.

If you want to help the homeless, please donate your money and/or time to one of several great organizations that help people get back on their feet.  Calvary Street Ministry.  Door of Hope.  Union Mission.  Salvation Army.  There are others.  That kind of donation is much, much more effective than giving to a street panhandler.

I hope that helps you understand where I’m coming from.  I could talk myself into circles about this all day but I have to get some work done.  If you have questions or comments you can e-mail me at paul@paulryburn.com and I’ll try my best to address them.

Wholesale Boscos beer, new restaurant on South Main

Boscos beer is now wholesaling their beers out of their warehouse location at 827 S. Main (at Crump). They will carry their South Main Pale Ale, Tennessee Cream Ale, Flaming Stone, Bombay IPA, Midtown aka Downtown Brown Ale, and Isle of Skye Scottish Ale in half-gallon growlers, 5 gallon kegs, and 15 1/2 gallon kegs. The dock will be open 9 to 5:30 Monday-Thursday, 9 to 6 Friday, and 9 to 1 (PM, not AM) Saturday. For best service on kegs, call a day ahead. Here’s a page on their website with more information.

More info from Otto: “Had to look around a bit to find the sales place though. As you’re
heading south on Main, just before you get to Crump, you take the
right into their big gated parking lot. The sales office has a sign up
that says “DOCK SALES” and some hours on it. Go in that door, up the
dock, tell the guy what you want. Done and done, easy.

They take credit, and don’t have a lot of cash on hand, so either
bring credit or exact change.”

A new restaurant looks to be opening in the former Wendell’s World Beat Grill location on South Main. A reader of this blog sent a couple of pictures of the new sign hanging out front, reading “Safari World Tapas Bar.” Its slogan is “taste the journey!” Anyone got more info on this? E-mail me (paul@paulryburn.com) if you do.

safari1.jpg

safari2.jpg

So, who’s doing pre-game/during-game specials for #1 Memphis vs. #2 Tennessee Saturday?  E-mail me and let me know.

Congrats to the Rapscallions on ANOTHER first-place trivia victory.  Even with one of our own as the trivia master, we didn’t have to cheat to win.  We’re just that damn awesome.  That brings us to $100 toward our next party.

Beer report:

Previous total:  $239.75

Beers 46, 47, and 48 (or 43, 44, and 45 according to the Saucer):
Preacher’s Collar $5.50
Spaten Bock Fire Sale $2.75
Woodchuck Raspberry bottle $4.00
Tip $12.25 x ~30% = $4.00
Total:  $16.25

Grand total:  $256.00

My BFF and her mini-me were both working tonight, although neither was our waitress.  The mini-me is developing a hell of an attitude, not surprising when you consider who her role model is.  After leaving the Saucer I went to Calhoun’s for one beer with Mikey the Trivia Guy, running into Sam and arts columnist Skipford M. Blank and of course bartender extraordinarre Lauren.

This has been your Tuesday night drunk post.  Time for bed.