This past week, signs have gone up around Scottsdale suggesting that commuters in the city should say “no” to panhandlers at specific street corners in the affluent neighborhoods. This story from AZ Family Channel 3 even quotes a sign spinner at one of those corners I pass every morning for his insight into the panhandling taking place at the intersection of Shea and Scottsdale roads.
A quick search of the Scottsdale government website provides a detailed list of services to help the homeless and poverty stricken on the corners in Scottsdale. The problem is… a large majority of these resources are in neighboring Phoenix! Some of them 20 miles away in downtown Phoenix.
Meanwhile, the Scottsdale Tourism and Convention center took in over $15,000,000 in revenues through resort fees and bed taxes, paid its staff of 40 employees $5,000,000 last year, and contributed $500,000 to their 401k. That last number is 3x more than money allocated to homelessness resources in Scottsdale and Phoenix from the Scottsdale Cares program which listed $140,000 in donations distributed in fiscal 2015/2016. Are there any reporters left out there to reveal the emperor’s new clothes… and shoes…. and handbags and accessories? This is not helping the homeless. It is the equivalent of buying them a one way ticket to Somebody Else’s Problem, USA
Benedictine Joe's Food 4 Thought Blog 