Re: Street people hamper core renewal (March 27, 2003)

I�m wondering if Ms. Wilson frequents the core often, and if these problems occur every time she is downtown, in Hamilton�s Core.

I used to work at Center Mall, and living on the west mountain, it was easier for me to take the bus downtown and then the Barton bus to the east end. Everyday I waited between fifteen minutes to a half hour downtown to switch buses, and nearly everyday I wandered through Jackson Square, the Eaton Center and through the shops downtown.

Never once in that year was I accosted by a homeless person, sworn at by a teenager, or mugged by a criminal. I didn�t have any problems walking into the mall, or through the mall, nor through the streets of downtown.

Now that I live and work on the east mountain, I don�t get downtown to shop as often as I would like. But when I do, I never have problems down there, and I go from Gore Park down to Wentworth and King.

I feel the downtown does need to be revived, but not at the detriment of those less fortunate, or teenagers who have nowhere else to go to hang out. If anything, perhaps you should reach into your pocket and spare that quarter for the panhandler, or maybe buy him or her a coffee. If you have nothing to spare, decline politely. That is how I handle it, both in Hamilton and in Toronto when I visit, and I have never had a panhandler and/or homeless person become rude or confrontational.

Shauna Hayes McShane
Hamilton

I've never had a problem
RE: 'Street people hamper core renewal' (March 27).

I used to work at Hamilton's Centre Mall. And, living on the west Mountain, I took the bus downtown and then the Barton bus to the east end.

Every day, I waited 15 minutes to a half hour downtown to switch buses. And nearly every day, I wandered through Jackson Square, the Eaton Centre and through the shops downtown.

Never once in that year was I accosted by a homeless person, sworn at by a teenager, or mugged by a criminal.

And I didn't have any problems walking into the mall, or through the mall, nor through the streets of downtown.

Now that I live and work on the east Mountain, I don't get downtown to shop as often as I would like. But when I do, I never have problems down there, and I go from Gore Park down to Wentworth and King.

I feel the downtown does need to be revived, but not at the detriment of those less fortunate, or teenagers who have nowhere else to go to hang out.

Perhaps more people should reach into their pocket and spare that quarter for the panhandler, or maybe buy him/her a coffee. Those who have nothing to spare should decline politely. That is how I handle it, both in Hamilton and in Toronto when I visit, and I have never had a panhandler and/or homeless person become rude or confrontational.

-- Shauna Hayes McShane, Hamilton.

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