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accomplished 
Article published Sep 16, 2005
Sep 16, 2005
‘Target poverty, not people,’ group says
| By Milton J. Valencia TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF |
WORCESTER— A local grass-roots group opposing the city’s new anti-panhandling program held a rally outside City Hall yesterday, calling on the administration to find “real solutions,” to “target poverty, not people.”
“There will be no justice in this city until the poor are treated with dignity,” said Anne Lewenberg, a member of Real Solutions and moderator of yesterday’s event. “We envision a Worcester that is compassionate to all, especially those most in need.”
Real Solutions is calling on the city to remove the “Panhandling is not the solution” billboards and signs that have been placed throughout Worcester as part of a city plan to encourage people to stop giving money to panhandlers loitering on city corners and instead consider giving to charity. Proponents of the plan said many times panhandlers use the money to buy alcohol or drugs, problems they said have fueled addiction, a possible reason for homelessness or begging. Giving money to a charity would provide proper services for homeless and the poor, officials said.
But those at yesterday’s meeting said the city must realize the homeless and the poor, for various reasons, are often reluctant to seek help from social service agencies, but still live in need.
They also complained that the motivation behind the new program is to boost the downtown economy and the program is a pretext to move the poor from plain view, to make the city appear “clean.”
“In its preoccupation with hiding those in need, the city of Worcester creates an image of Worcester as ‘clean’ by keeping people out of sight, mind and heart,” said Michael True, a city resident who said the program isn’t typical of Worcester’s history of caring for those in need.
“Signs and symptoms of poverty, such as panhandling, will only be eliminated by addressing the root causes of poverty in Worcester, not by clearing out the poor people.”
The group also released a letter signed by pastors from the Christian Community Church, Pleasant Street Baptist Church, Temple Emanuel, St. Peter Catholic Church and the Aldersgate United Methodist Church, calling for the city to be more compassionate toward the poor.
Real Solutions plans a meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Abby’s House Shelter, 52 High St.
