To Lynn Porter:  it's easy to see from your comments you've never ridden your bike under the Washington-Jefferson Street bridge where nearly 10 homeless people camp and block the bike path with their shopping carts, or walked down Broadway Avenue and had to literally step over the 20-somethings sprawled all over the sidewalk smoking and doing drugs in broad daylight. Just last week one of them demanded money from a passerby, was denied that $, then assaulted him and was arrested. I've had people people follow me to my car and get in my face demanding money, and a transient took hold of my father's arm in the 5th Street Public Market demanding money.

You obviously live a sheltered life to make such a statement, so don't go around making enabling declarations like  "begging is not illicit behavior" . A great majority of poverty today is the result of poor choices, including addiction. Let's put the blame where it really lies; it's certainly not with the taxpaying voters.  Sheesh.