As we drive throughout Fresno, we come across the defiant driver talking on their cell phone, the person driving unbelievably slow and of course the cyclists riding bikes in the middle of traffic lanes, as if they were riding solar-powered motorcycles. But what’s even more of a nuisance are the panhandlers who occupy the medians throughout the city.

For the last nine months, as I’ve driven through the intersection of Blackstone Ave. at Ashlan Ave., I have seen a middle-aged man standing like a statue while holding a sign, justifying why he needs my cash.

I’ve also seen him many times in the El Pollo Loco restaurant at that intersection ordering his lunch. Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch? This makes me wonder why I work full time and go to college.

Two weeks ago, I was in the west-bound turn lane on Shaw Ave., waiting to make a U-turn. I was three cars back from the crosswalk as I noticed an older lady with a sign. She moved toward my car and motioned for me to roll my window down.

“Is she actually asking me to roll my window down?” I thought. She then proceeded to tell me her story, speaking in a manner that would leave an auctioneer winded. Despite having some money on me, I refused to donate, and with the push of a button, my window went back up. I couldn’t believe she had the guts to do that.

On March 26, 2008, an Associated Press story entitled, “Fresno City Council seeks to limit panhandlers in medians,” appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle (if a story about Fresno’s beggars appeared in the Chronicle, what does that tell you?)

According to the article, city council members voted to ask the city attorney to draft legislation that would make the practice of panhandling on medians either illegal or severely limited. One exception would be for firefighters who are raising money for their annual fund drive.

Now that it has been almost two years since this issue was brought to light, I have seen nothing change. In fact, I think it’s gotten worse.

Some of the commentary that I’ve either read or heard raises another point. Besides annoying drivers and ruining Fresno’s image, there also lies the issue of liability. Should a driver mistakenly hit one of these panhandlers, what would happen? Could the panhandler actually take the driver to court and win a sum of money for damages?

For many years, Fresno has desperately tried to attract businesses to come here and offer some jobs and establish industry. It’s even harder now, with only a few businesses expanding due to the poor economic situation. Having panhandlers at every intersection certainly won’t help attract businesses, unless captains of industry drive around Fresno thinking “Look at all these people I could put to work.” Yeah right.

Though Fresno has its share of problems, having panhandlers on medians at every intersection is one of the most obvious. It’s dangerous for them, drivers and it gives Fresno a bad image. It’s time for the city council to raise this issue once more. Fresno certainly has enough officers to patrol and enforce any new law regarding panhandlers on medians.
If this problem continues to be left on the back burner, we will all soon be driving through panhandler-organized “donation checkpoints.”