The panhandler problem, which came up in a recent municipal meeting covered in the Gazette, is serious. Both the newspaper and the Northampton City Council should get their acts together on the panhandler crisis.
At this meeting, three very longtime local business leaders said it was a serious problem.
This is an old, festering situation that is getting worse, not better. I hope the City Council is looking for solutions from a broad set of examples and ideas on how to deal with the issue.
I also hope that those who serve our collective interests keep in mind that a great part of what makes our city a great place to live, work and play is a thriving entrepreneur set who live nearby, shop locally, employ locally, pay taxes, compete globally, and struggle to make a profit.
I would hope that their voices are heard and duly respected as voices of people who have a good idea of what is good for our city.
If I was a business owner and I saw panhandlers (and that is a generous name for some of them) hanging out in front of my storefront I would be worried sick that they are creating a negative atmosphere in which potential customers are turned off from entering my store.
Do the malls allow that? Does Amazon? Does Walmart?
Of course not, it’s bad for business. Why does Northampton?
David Kaufman
Florence