Darien Residents React To Panhandling

DARIEN, IL — A Darien alderman told his colleagues the other day that he got a call from a resident concerned about panhandling at Cass Avenue and 75th Street. The police chief then told the City Council that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled bans on panhandling in public spaces are unconstitutional.

Patch's story on Darien panhandlers prompted a discussion on Facebook this week. Some said they rarely see panhandlers; others say they see them more often than they used to.

A number of readers said panhandlers are seen outside the local Walmart.

"Darien Walmart has quite a few people every summer, as well as the bank next to it will sometimes have a guy standing on the corner," one man said.

A woman responded, "I saw one at Walmart over a year ago. Nothing since. And I'm a housewife in Darien, so I'm always out and about in Darien."

Some are doubtful of the panhandlers' intentions.

"They want the money, not to be helped by God. Most won't take the help when offered," one woman said. "Most are panhandling due to drug use, mental illness, greed and laziness. The families and ones who really need the help know there are numerous services out there to help them. The others just like to travel and/or have no responsibilities. Some can be dangerous, so just beware."

Another woman agreed, but said she did not like it when some residents' go-to move is to call police when they see panhandlers.

"I found the hard way that the quickest way to get rid of them is to offer food," she said. "I went into Walmart to buy a rotisserie chicken and they were gone."

But she added, "It's never wrong to show kindness as long as it's paired with common sense."

A man said he believed local panhandlers may have an elaborate scheme.

"I see a lot of the same people in different locations," he said. "Where I worked before there used to be a car that would drop them off or pick them up. Every few weeks, they changed out the panhandler, which led me to believe there is some scam involved."