the rix mix

I hand out spare change. Usually depends upon how much I got jangling in my pocket. I had two rules: I don't want to hear the word "borrow" in the appeal; & I never give change as payment for some unwanted "service," like playing doorman at a downtown coffee shop or trying to help me buy a train ticket from the machine. It's often a form of intimidation. It isn't subcontracted employment. If they can hang around the train station all day actively pestering people, they can offer to sweep a store's sidewalk & pick up the trash or something useful, & it also shows they have enough control & attention span to go to the social services office or St. Joseph's & discuss their situations with a social worker. I don't care what they do with the change. Or I didn't until I saw the guy who often lurks around 7/11 asking for change sitting out in front of the store scratching off a lottery card. Now I have a third rule. If I catch them using the money to play losing odds for more money, no more change from me.

Labels: Elizabeth NJ