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Downtown Rant

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by queenofvegas, Mar 25, 2014.

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  1. queenofvegas

    queenofvegas Low-Roller

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    I have always been a fan of downtown and have stayed there at least part of every trip taken to Vegas in the last 30 plus. We have enjoyed it for all the same reasons everyone else does but I honestly don't remember it ever being such a freak show. It was honestly getting to be irritating walking Fremont especially out in front of Four Queens this weekend. Both sides of the street lined with people begging in one form or another with their signs and stupid outfits trying to outdo each other. One guy was even trying to juggle bowling balls over the head of a guy laying on the street, only a matter of time before that goes bad. To the couples that were using their children in the strollers as pawns to get money, why dont one of you go look for real work instead of spending 8 hours out on the street begging other people for their money. It was sad and I can't see how this can be a good thing for the area. In previous years none of this was ever allowed, security would boot them off and make them move on their way. I want that back for Fremont!
     
  2. DonnyC

    DonnyC VIP Whale

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    I get the frustration.

    I must also say that it isn't as simple as saying "Go get a job".

    Don't have a mailing address - that creates a problem.

    No work history or resume that is current - the job-market for all jobs is very competitive.

    Loos of government financial aid also comes with with earning an income - and so a low paying part time job may actually cost that person more.

    There are many issues associated with poverty - even for those that chose that life and now regret it.
     
  3. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    I like some of the characters dressed up on Fremont Street, it adds a different vibe. However, as the OP correctly points out, there are a lot of people on Fremont that add no entertainment value, they are there simply to panhandle. I like some of the entertainers and some of them just don't float my boat but I'm basically ok with the street performers, in general.

    My solution would be for anyone on Fremont street performing or asking for money to get a permit. Then security could toss out those who didn't get a permit because they presumably don't offer any entertainment value.

    Not sure if this would infringe on first amendment issues, but as my Dad used to say: "If you're going to complain about something at the very least offer a possible solution to the perceived problem."

    :peace: :beer:
     
    Annual CCA (Casino Collectibles Association) Show at South Point
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  4. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    Wow. I thought the sympathy con with dogs was bad. Now they're using kids. Lovely. :thumbsdown:
     
  5. Jonnyvegas

    Jonnyvegas Low-Roller

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    It's a shame that downtown doesn't police this problem at least a little. Anyone caught actually harassing anyone should be removed from the area. I love downtown, but do not go every trip for these reasons. Unless visitor count is way it probably will not change.

    The light show is old now so probably will visit the area in the afternoon / early evening before too many freaks come out.
     
  6. Persistent Cat

    Persistent Cat Tourist

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    I respect and admire your compassion :beer:
     
  7. UTE

    UTE Plastics

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    Heck, what some consider a freak show many of us consider it to be harmless entertainment.

    Bill
     
  8. ruralhipster

    ruralhipster High-Roller

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    Didn't the NAACP already take this to court as a first amendment rights case? I think the city should sell Fremont street to the FSE for a dollar and make it a private space then they could do something about it.
     
  9. Smo

    Smo Mr. Las Vegas

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    Saw a couple doing this with their kid in a stroller and dressed all trashy, but on the bridges across Las Vegas Blvd over by Wynn. They had finished begging for money, packed up their gear, and were leaving. The dude whips out his iPhone, calls a friend and says "Where do you wanna go for lunch?"

    Was so shocked. I wanted to sock him in the head and throw his iPhone in the lake at Wynn. But I didn't. :grrr:

    Gonna be downtown in a few weeks and I hope it doesn't look half of what you described. :cry:
     
  10. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

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    I work with people everyday and i guarantee you that one thing is constant.

    That this is that the problem with any given situation is the person you see in the miror every morning.

    Its no worse now then it has ever been. Its not at a fever pitch. Its you.

    i dont mean that in a bad way so please dont take it that way.

    We all go through ebbs and troughs. Its just the naturalucycle of things.

    its the same with vegas and it really shows the edges of the ebbs and troughs downtown.

    I think all of us vegas vets have been in your shoes and felt dirty after leaving downtown, dirty some visits then others.

    Embrace it, thats where the rubber really meets the road. thats what downtown is really all about.

    Its about not just the casinos but the personalities that surround them.

    Dont let them freak you out.

    Think about it. You can have a regular job during the day and go downtown, act pathetic for a couple hours and double your check tax free.

    These people are sticking it to the man. embrace it.
     
  11. DonnyC

    DonnyC VIP Whale

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    I generally don't like to give panhandlers money.

    And I have absolutely no clue what it's like to be homeless, or poor.

    I do like to help out where and when I can. If I feel prompted then I'll buy a meal or something like that for someone who's panhandling.
     
  12. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    All those people are doing that because it works, if enough people feel the way you do it will stop, if enough dont then it will continue. The market will rule.
     
  13. Nick61

    Nick61 MIA

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    Beware of posting your own opinion around here regarding what you see and experience in Vegas, particularly if it's perceived as negative.

    Without listing specific details of our own personal unfortunate experience which occurred downtown, I was met with far less than supportive comments. Replies such as, "we've been there before and nothing ever happened to us, why would it therefore happen to you." Silliness like that is impossible to even reply to.

    We love Vegas, we've been there over 100 times, and we will continue to go.

    But it hasn't all been a bed of roses. Be careful where you go, who you talk to, and don't trust strangers. Lock your cars, make sure your hotel room door is firmly latched, with the double bolt feature engaged. This is probably good advice for any major metropolitan city or location throughout the world.

    One other thing I failed to mention. If your hotel has one of those side doors that connect to an adjoining room, that is one of the most vulnerable places in a hotel room. Those doors are very easy to breach/break into/get into, whatever phrase your prefer.

    If you're able, move some of the furniture from the room in front of that door in order to block it. Put stuff like your luggage for instance on the furniture you block the door with. If you have some glasses for drinking, balance them around close to the edges of the furniture, where they will easily fall if that door is pushed in. Glasses make lots of noise when they fall, particularly if the floor is made of tile. You'll have a better chance of them getting scared away, if they know you're awake, or they fear others may have heard the loud noise.

    And for the 99 out of 100 people who go to Vegas, and are not victims of crime, good for them, we're happy for you. We didn't experience a problem either on our first 100 (more than) trips. But as we unfortunately learned, this doesn't mean it can't ever happen to you.
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2014
  14. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    Act pathetic? People who do that ARE pathetic. "These people are sticking it to the man". Actually, they just show how undignified people can get.

    "embrace it"? Are you kidding? No thank you.
     
  15. PokerFaceNJ

    PokerFaceNJ Low-Roller

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    I am often troubled when I read posts like this one. On one hand I can understand the frustration that one might have with being on vacation and having being confronted with less than savory characters...some see this as a safety issue. On the other hand though, I feel that we all need to be more sensitive to the plight of the homeless and poor. If we shut our eyes and hope they don't exist, they still will. It is a very real problem in this country and hoping that they don't interfere with our vacation does not help anyone. Even when we say how disturbing it is to have a child with them...how would a homeless family pay for childcare? Who do they have to help babysit? Panhandling might be their only form of providing food for their family. There are just layers and layers of issues that many of us can't begin to understand but I do know that I hug my family a little tighter when I think about all of this and become very grateful that I continue to provide for everyone in my family and pray that I never lose my job and have to worry about putting food on my table.
     
  16. Tammy58

    Tammy58 Frugal Slot Jockey

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    Totally agree with Merlin on this. Just like anything that I don't "like"...it comes down to economics. If it didn't work, they wouldn't do it. I don't care for being accosted on the strip or downtown by pornslappers, characters, panhandlers, art/cd sellers...if they didn't get money out of it they would stop doing it. Same for timeshare hawkers. I no longer blame the people trying to make a buck...I blame the people who actually give them the money. Problem would be solved without them. Basic economics.
     
  17. jackincols

    jackincols Guest

    Thought you were going to end with, "...and drove away in their Mercedes." Wouldn't surprise me one bit.
     
  18. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    We've been staying downtown for more than 14 years and nothing bothers us.:peace:
     
  19. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    I spend almost my whole trip downtown(many times), and while I agree they are multiplying, the fact is they do not approach you are even say anything to you unless you approach them first. They just stand there and wait. That's not really an issue, just walk by and ignore them.

    Now when you get to the edges of the fremont st thing bums will talk to you and ask for money, but the characters never will. If anything the timeshare/show people who approach you by those abc stores are more irritating...and they are very well dressed.
     
  20. mjamesp

    mjamesp High-Roller

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    I understand how you feel, there's a lot of things about Vegas I want back. The deli in the back of the Golden Gate, the Stardust sports book ect......

    There's a lot of things I would wish for if I could.

    The things you listed concerning downtown are what I'd consider costs of living in a free county. We all love our freedom, sometimes we forget it comes at a cost.
     
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