AURORA | Jim Marynowski has spent the last week sleeping outside in the arctic temperatures. He wears a beige coat over a fleece army-patterned sweater. Friendly and smiling, his face looks like leather.
“They’re not nice,” Jim said of the homeless shelters he’s visited in the Denver metro area.
“Other people steal your stuff, there’re bed bugs. If you have to go there, you wait in line for hours to get in. And you have to be out at five in the morning. You might as well just stay here and be cold for a couple hours.”
“Here” for Marynowski means a median at a cumbersome exit off of Interstate 225 North as it turns onto South Parker Road.
“It’s a nice view of the mountains,” he said.
He says the area, which is part of unincorporated Arapahoe County, serves as a major crossroad for transients all over the country. The median is an island though. Parker Road on the other side of I-225 belongs to Aurora, which prohibits panhandling.
The fact that this panhandler’s oasis exists in the city’s purview is a problem according to Aurora Councilwoman Molly Markert.
Markert says people who panhandle at the busy off ramp cause accidents by stopping traffic flow. “It’s not safe, and it’s not the kind of help people need,” she said.
That opinion is not supported by the 18 accidents logged by the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s office at this intersection in 2013. None can be attributed to panhandling.
Markert has been working with city staff and Aurora Police to create what city documents call a “panhandling rack card” that city officials hope to stock at public buildings and hand out at events. City documents show that when finalized, the cards would describe who pandhandlers are, and where they believe the money goes that panhandlers receive. The cards would also provide contact information for local homeless service agencies people can donate to instead of giving money directly to the panhandlers. The Aurora police did not respond with the final version of the card by press time.
The rack cards are a short-term solution, says Markert. She says the long-term solution will be to annex the southbound Parker road exit off of I-225 so that Aurora law can be enforced, an idea that was introduced by city officials in November of this year.
In 1993, The City of Aurora passed a panhandling ban in response to what it said were safety issues being caused by street vendors hawking papers for the former Rocky Mountain News. The paper promptly sued the city for what it said was a violation of its First Amendment rights, and the case was taken up by the Colorado Supreme Court in 1995, which ultimately upheld the city’s right to regulate its streets. Video tapes reviewed for the case showed hawkers at Aurora intersections who danced as sang as well as some who conducted sales transactions in lanes of moving traffic.
That same law holds true today in Aurora, long after the hawkers disbanded.
Not everyone sees the roadside panhandlers as a problem. Buckley Air Force Base resident Jill Mendonsa says she would rather see the city focus on creating more shelters for the homeless than further regulation of street corners.
“I see that the people that are standing there, and I don’t see it as a nuisance,” she said, adding that she also hasn’t observed any traffic issues as a result of panhandlers.
Mary Pritchard, outreach coordinator for The Colfax Community Network, adds that city’s approach to panhandlers, though well intentioned, may miss the point.
“It’s sort of like the camping ban in Denver. It pushes the problem down the road somewhere else. It is not fun to see people who are less fortunate than you are,” Pritchard said.
Pritchard says her organization, which focuses on providing afterschool programs and services to low-income and homeless families living in motels along East Colfax, can be at most a Band-Aid to a population that simply doesn’t have enough resources.
“Last year we served over 3,400 people over 16,000 times,” she said.
“We do a food bank two days a week, and we see about 30 families a day in our food bank. You can only come once every other month. Whenever I talk to a client about how to get services, the services are so few and far between, you have to ask everybody for everything.”
A 2013 point-in-time survey of 11,167 homeless people in the Denver metro area found more than half of the people surveyed lived with children. The survey, which was conducted by the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, also found that more respondents were homeless for a longer period of time in 2013 than in prior years, and that there has been a steady decrease in rental housing vacancy rates across the metro area over the past three years.
Metro Denver’s rental market has remained tight throughout 2013, according to Colorado Division of Housing data, and its vacancy rate has remained lower than the rest of the U.S. since 2009, according to the U.S Census Bureau.
Micaela Tompkins, a 15-year-old student at Hinkley High School whose family lives in temporary housing at a Colfax motel through the help of a program called Aurora@Home, was getting a ride from a doctor’s appointment to school on a recent Wednesday when Pritchard told her about the panhandling card.
“It’s better than giving homeless people money because they’ll just go spend it on alcohol or drugs,” Tompkins said.
“If they have the information, it could possibly put in their mind that there’s something that they can do to get help.”
I don’t give a crap….almost every panhandler I see can work….give them nothing….these are democratic programmed mooches.
What a joke. If panhandling is against the law in Aurora, who is enforcing it? We can’t get codes enforced in our neighborhoods yet, we can concern ourselves with panhandlers on I-225 and Parker Rd.? Please!
Panhandlers gravitate to target rich environments. Stop giving them money and they’ll move along on their own when the financial resource dries up.
Markert, try to pull your head out of your own rear end already. We can’t enter or leave the grocery store, drug stores, malls and restaurants without being accosted by panhandlers INSIDE the city.
This council person is so out of touch with her constituents and their quality of life, it’s not funny in the least. Either that or she has convinced herself that everyone living in her Ward is a Democrat and appreciates our police force spending time on fruitless endeavors such as this.
First of all, Rachel, please learn to use apostrophes correctly. Then maybe you can be a big girl and write an article for the paper.
More importantly, it needs to be said and said clearly that panhandlers on the roadways are a menace. Their presence creates dangerous situations for drivers. They corrupt the natural flow of traffic, provide distractions to drivers and increase the irritation level of everyone in the area. There is nothing good about this, and it needs to stop.
I just moved to Denver, and I can’t believe that this is allowed. It’s one thing to have it around 5 points – that’s troublesome for its own reasons (note proper use of the word its) – but you can avoid that area, and they aren’t hassling motorists who are trying to drive. When is this going to be treated as a traffic hazard and removed ?
“Oh those poor people” – give it a rest. First, who is truly needy and who isn’t ? Second, there are institutions set up to help those people, and my tax dollars already pay for it. Third, if you want to donate, do it through a legitimate charity. By ‘helping out’ those people you throw spare change to you are only facilitating and propagating this behavior. Why would they have any motivation to improve themselves and their lives when all they have to do now is grab a lawn chair and a cardboard sign and stand around for a few hours receiving money ?
Time to wake up.
True story. Happened yesterday on my way to work.
A man standing roadside held a sign that said, “I need money for cigarettes and booze”. I noticed the sign was colorful and laminated. We wouldn’t want it to get wet or anything. The sign holder had zero teeth in his mouth and could barely walk upright. When I mentioned this to a friend of mine, she said, “At least he is telling the truth so I’d give him money”.
Time to wake up is right!
You must think your crap don’t stink the way you write…2nd “their presence alone (just standing there with a sign) doesn’t create a dangerous situation for drivers. 3rd..corrupt the natural flow of traffic? What does that mean? I see hundreds of panhandlers and the traffic moves just fine. 4th..they increase the irritation level of everyone in the area?? Like we are to believe somehow you know what everyone in the area is thinking??? 5th…can’t believe this is happening?? Like this is the most outrageous crime ever committed…..see the problem is people like you that think your crap don’t stink and your smarter and better than anyone else…if you just moved here and run your mouth like that you’re going to get your a$$ beat so shut your mouth butthead….
Awesome comment. Threatening me and calling me names. Really contributes to the discussion.
YEA….I noticed you had no counter argument so shut the hell up.
First of all David… Who made You the Grammar Check Police?? Undoubtedly.. Not The “Paper”!! So… Let the staff at The “Paper” Do it’s job! Truly… You MUST BE A MISERABLE MAN!
. More Importantly, Do you even know what each individual is going through in their lives? Clearly.. I’m Sure that Panhandling is Not an occupation that “Some” would have chosen!
. If you, personally, want to ” Donate” by way of charitable organizations.. Then by all means… Do so!! And, by the way, Don’t forget to write it off at the end of the year! Although, I have a Strong Feeling that You, David, along with other “authorities” at hand… Would Love Nothing More than to Rid the Earth of such “debris”!!
. Unfortunately… These “People” Do Exist! Some Not by the hand that they have been dealt…. Others have fallen on the Sword of “Life” and its Cruel existence! Our World as we once knew it has been defiled. Mothers and Fathers with Children being”forced” to Purge to the hands of likes of Men like You!
While I Do agree with the fact that ” Some” probably Do, in fact, Abuse panhandling. “Some” probably and Always will buy alcohol and/or drugs with the money. Anyone would be a Fool to think otherwise. That being said, There Are also a Number of “Others” who have had to Resign to such measures! You Might “Think” it’s ” Easy” to just pull a cardboard box out and stand on the roadside and Beg! Sounds like a Great Job! Where can I sign up?
Have You read this book by Charles Dickens called ” The Christmas Carol”? Wow David!! I think “Someone” “May” have just found “Their” Calling in life!! Lol..
Maybe you, David, Should be a part of the Solution rather than a part of the Problem! Rather then “Complain” about such “Menaces” , as you so well put it , Why don’t you just “Lock” them up? For Gods Sake!
. Or…. Maybe “They” Should Stop the “Menaces of Society” and Go Commit Crimes instead?? Invading Your Precious Homes… Busting through Your Nice Finely Tuned Hybrid Vehicles! Rob You as You go to your Nice “Tax Paying” job. You have insurance…. I’m pretty sure “They’ll” Cover Any and All Crimes Committed Against You.. David! This is Exactly Where the World is Heading! And if You All think for One Minute that Your “Cards” are Going to Stop or Change ANYTHING? YOU ALL ARE DOOMED!
. Panhandling has been going on as long as and if not before Harlotry! Make a New Law… Put them in jail( BTW… It’s nice and warm in there!).. Your Not Changing Anything! Sorry that “You’re” inconvenienced!
. Rachel Sapin Was just Doing”Her” Job! Informing the People of Your Area of an Issue that is seemingly a “Problem” that needs to be addressed! In ” My” Opinion… She’s doing a Fine Job indeed!
WOW…it’s the Democrats war on homeless women and men…..remember they need your vote.
I’m diabetic and need food. I need help I had a job at the DIA for 21yr I. Don’t. Do alcohol or drugs. I can’t work no moor I stay. In my car at Wal-Mart can’t get help I hit my head
I am an occasional panhandler. And i just want to say that i am out there for a legitimate reason. I live in adams county, commerce city to be exact. I get only ssi disability once a month. I may not be totally homeless, but i do need serious help. I am trying to raise my 15 year old on little money. I dont get very much in food stamps. I pay $2 for every dr visit and $1 to $2 for prescriptions. On the average i spend $30 a month for my visits and scripts. Also $5 to $10 on rtd a day to get me to all my appointments. I occasionally need help throughout the month. Adams county does not offer any kind of assistance for a single mom in my position. I am 18 years clean from drugs and never had a problem drinking. Dont like it plus it does not react well with my meds. Anyways i agree with those about most panhandlers are out there asking for money to pay for their drugs and alcohol. I run into them frequently when i go out. I have even been attacked by one of those type of people. But in order for me to get help i have to take it to the public. And panhandling works. Just to say further that i am taking the right steps for a better life and hopefully can get a part time job to help with expenses.