I despise the fake bums that are flooding Spring Garden Rd. I’ve recently found out that they make more money than I do. I overheard a conversation between two dudes in front of a coffee shop yesterday. One said he made $120 bucks on Saturday between 5pm and 2am. That really grinds my gears. As a result, there is no chance I provide any funds. If you want to help, donate to a shelter not to their coffee cups. —Bitter Ken
This article appears in Feb 24 – Mar 2, 2011.
I realised myself that they average a higher income than me. It bugs me a bit, but what can you do.
So what? I prefer home ownership to $120 on a Saturday. Its a no-brainer. Hell, its not like they cost us anything.
Hey Sreetlife: are you reading this on your smartphones? Can you feel the love? Is it time to light out for Fort Crackmurray, where the streets are paved with lysol and the bulls’ tasers shoot clean hypodermic needles filled with skittles instead of megavolts. Time to be headin’ on down the road, and while you’re at it, take HRM council with you. Happy Trails.
There is a girl on spring garden thats takes a cab from somewheres quite far (don’t remember for sure where from maybe Windsor?) Theres a cab ride to and from every day and all she does is collect money for herself from passing people.
I’d much rather have the JOB I have now than walk up and down the street pathetically asking people for money.
Sure the money is the driving force behind working for probably 99% of us, but it’s not only the extrinsic rewards that count — I like the intrinsic rewards that come along with knowing I got my ass out of bed early, spent a day being productive and got a solid and reliable paycheque at the end of two weeks that ensures I can enjoy my independance and not have to rely on anyone but myself to take care of my shit.
Plus I don’t have to stand outside in the cold all fucking day.
It may be the one I met before Christmas. She was sitting in front of Spring Garden Place in the rain and plaintively asking people for for some money so she could buy some food. I got her a wrap from Pete’s and told her “If you aren’t really hungry, give this to someone on the street who is. Don’t just throw it away.” I don’t know if she ate it or not but last Saturday I saw her talking on her cell phone. Now, I don’t know her whole story but it’s sufficient to reinforce my stance that these parasites can get their spare change from Dexter & Harper. Because that’s where mine fucking well goes.
I work pretty much on SG and I have never in the 3 years I’ve been here gave anyone money. There’s one guy with a cat that I have bought a coffee for…when it was super cold and snowing like crazy…but that’s it. I work a full time job 9-5 plus spend nights and weekends working the other part of my job. I’m not giving any of them 1 red cent. (I do donate to charities online where I get a tax receipt though).
Oh Yeah. Does anybody know the story on Cat Guy? The cat is always so calm and well-behaved, content to just sit curled up in the bag around buddy’s neck. I’ll buy him a coffee from time to time as well. And I once found a pair of fivers on a Saturday morning outside Bookmark and gave him one. So, I guess my Bum Hate is a little inconsistent.
I like the guy with the cat. Last year, the day after I had to have my Ernest put to sleep(kidney disease/wasting) I met the cat guy and Ralph, the cat. I told him my story and he was very sweet and said “pet Ralph as long as you need to”. He never asks me for money, though I offer food all the time from the frooteek. I gave him a coffee gift card at Xmas, for the cold days, and once he said “I never ask you, but I need to get the bus”. I gave him a toonie and he hopped on the next bus. He’s shared his story with me.
As much as you can’t believe anyone you run into, homeless or not, we’re all pretty close from ending up on the street, and it’s not all laziness or drug addiction.
Meh. Is what it is.
Happy Thursday everyone.
Ivan-
He says he’s a trained chef(from talking to him, he seems to be), lives in a place with a group of other guys. Seems like a good guy. Loves his cat.
Thanks Wheelie. I get both of those impressions from him. He’s always grateful. And you are quite correct – it is what it is. Hope you have a good thursday as well. Screeeeeee!
The cat guy, I think he lives on South Park St in the building next to the convenience store on the corner of south park and fenwick.
didn’t you see the links i put on here yesterday? these guys make more money than most working stiffs, and only pay a daily rental fee out for their spot.
the guy who oversees all this is named devin. not sure where he lives, but i think he strong arms them to either rent from him, or not panhandle at all in halifucks or darkside.
the cops apparently will do nothing, or can’t do nothing.
I’ll gladly give them my arse lint.
I saw the cat guy last week. I sure do love kittehs.
But I don’t give money out…
I wish they would make panhandling illegal. Or at least stow those bums on a cargo ship to Guatemala.
The young guy who’s always so fucking rude and persistent drives me nuts. “Got a toonie? Got a toonie?” It was pretty awesome when the cops told him to stop being so aggressive and harassing people. Get a fucking job already!
I for one am enjoying not walking SGR every day any longer… as bad as the buses are, they’re better than dealing with the decrepit DT core and all the filth and bum’s….
now come summer, I may have to change my mind…
😉
I’ve never seen the cat guy before, but I don’t make it up to SGR much anymore during lunch. I strongly detest the guys that hang around near Barrington and Prince. They’re so aggressive and are constantly yelling nasty things at me (and I assume others) when I don’t give them anything. It’s my money, I don’t have to give it out. And I’m especially not going to knowing that they are complete pricks.
Fake bums? Are they like fake boobs? Nevermind…
I absolutely abhor the people that bum for change on Spring Garden road. My philosophy is that I am not working two jobs that drive me insane just to hand my money off to someone who’s probably getting more than I do in one day.
My favourite one to ignore is this chick. I think she might be Native? I’m not sure. But she’s young and doesn’t LOOK poor. But she stands there and basically puts on a show for you, sometimes making it sound like there’s a whimper or sob in her voice. I never even tell her “sorry”. I just continue right on by.
PS this is nothing new. Bucket/dancer man makes shit loads. Has been for years. Many make more than 30, 000- tax free- and aren’t actually homeless. They have apartments. It’s amazing what you learn when you work in a coffee shop on SGR. If you want to give to the poor, give to United Way, a shelter, your church, etc. Never hand off cash.
Being down and out does not give people license to beg from strangers. I’ve been down and out and never once begged on the street. That was before food banks were even thought of. There are many charities that help those that need it and that is where the street beggars should be directed to. I never give money.
“Or at least stow those bums on a cargo ship to Guatemala.”
The same could be said about your kind.
FUCK YOU OP!!!!!! YOURE A FUCKEN SELFISH, GREEDY INGRATE!!! DONT HAVE THE ENERGY TO WRITE A MORE MATURE RESPONSE RIGHT NOW, BUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEMISE OF THE WORLD!!!!!
CAPS LOCK: CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL!!!
bahaha ^^ jdp… Me thinks onetime likely spends lots of time on SGR with an empty tim’s cup. We seemed to have touched a nerve there.
They are all on crystal meth and/or crack. Giving them money feeds the habit. Some are pimps as well and enjoy beating up women or other people who ‘steal their spot’. Just get them some damn treatment for their various addictions.
so based on the last few posts from “onetime” we can reasonably deduce that they are one of those “fake bums” sucking from the teet of decent people in hrm.
Perhaps he’s the guy who got a pair of Empire Fun Zone tokens in his timmies cup – courtesy of moi.
That’s a great idea, I should get all kinds of fake coins and give them to them!
Put some road salt in a little ziploc bag and “accidentally” drop it while you pass buy. Pretend to read street feat and watch the frolics that ensue, especially if 2 are “working” the same block.
why is there the assumption that i am a man? I am a woman!!! Yes, I understand, my CAPS LOCK rages are annoying. lol. I’ll try to stop, but sometimes they just happen. But back to my original point, why must it always be assumed that I am a man! This is not the first time this has happened on this board either!!
Don’t take this the wrong way Onetime … but you type like a man. Jk. Just making fun of how absurd it is to get mad over gender discrepancies over the internet :D.
onetime, i don’t believe you are a female. let me come to see you, then i will know the truth.