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Homeless people on Fremont Street

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by peppersjap, Nov 24, 2012.

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  1. peppersjap

    peppersjap Guest

    I went to Freemont on Sunday night and was very impressed by the new restaurants and bars and the upgrades on some of the hotels but the homeless people were everywhere, I was constantly being asked for money. this also seemed to be the theme on the strip. I used to love the people dressed up as characters but now they are people dressed up in dirty suits and disgusting things like an older guy walking around in there underwear. The people dressed up like the Avengers could have been outdone by any 8 year old on Halloween and they seem to expect you to give them money just because they put on a costume. We usually spend a full night downtown but this trip we might have stayed for an hour, the beggars under the zip line were quite a touch.
     
  2. Candy Apple

    Candy Apple VIP Whale

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    Fortunately, we didn't encounter the number of homeless on this past trip as we did in the mid 2000's. I agree that the costumes are getting out of hand. We even saw four Sesame Street characters together by Planet Hollywood.
     
  3. TomTWI

    TomTWI Custom Title

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    My last trip downtown was in April. We spent a couple hours on Fremont while some of the characters are funny or hot most are just pathetic. I don't make eye contact so no one asked for money.

    TomTWI
     
  4. Hunt182644

    Hunt182644 Tourist

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    Last trip it was hard to tell which was more comical. Some of the costumed characters or the overweight young ladies all dressed up with their chubby cheeks hanging out.:rolleyes2: best thing just don't make eye contact and consider it part of the free entertainment.:thumbsup:
     
  5. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    I try to do my share of giving donations to various charities that deal with the homeless problem. So with dealing with homeless people on an individual basis is a case by case thing for me. Sometimes these people are mentally ill or just f#@kn lazy. To many of them, life simply dealt them some bum cards.

    As far as the costumed people, if I look at them for any particular reason, be it that they look stupid, ridiculous, or sexy and hot, don't expect any money from me. I'n not the one trying to get attention.

    If a person in costume shows extraordinary skill or showmanship that I enjoyed, I'll tip them for their effort.

    But if they just stand there in a mediocre costume and expect something, forget it.:nono:
     
  6. VegasSteven

    VegasSteven Low-Roller

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    I've recently been hit up more than usual by panhandlers on Fremont. Some may be homeless, some not. But it's been more aggressive of late. I usually offer to grab them something to eat instead. A few have accepted, but most shoot me an angry look and walk way (my standard order is 6 cheeseburgers and a huge fry...I know, big spender, right?).

    I like the idea someone mentioned about contributing to charities that assist the homeless and decide on the individuals case by case. That's a great approach.
     
  7. gerry53

    gerry53 VIP Whale

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    we love fremont and the bums we can just take in stride. they are never aggressive and usually very polite.

    I miss the dude dressed as austin powers we used to see on fremont but we still get to see dolly parton at binion`s,oh yea she is a drink waitress:beer:

    hopefully people don`t decide not to give downtown a try because of it though. we went to use the elevator to go up to the walkway by planet hollywood a couple trips ago really early in the morning and when the doors opened two bums jumped out of their sleeping bags having a screaming fit. scared the hell out of us!
     
  8. TFK

    TFK High-Roller

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    I've probably been approached for money downtown once in the past 6 or 7 years. Actually, now that I think about it, twice. Once by a guy under the canopy about 4 in the morning, and once by a guy in a Fitzgerald's mens room.

    Of course, it's been about 9 months since I've been to Vegas, so maybe things are changing. Without breaching the taboo subject of politics, I'll just say things will probably get worse before they get better.

    As for the people in costumes, I think they're hilarious, but maybe that's just appealing to my twisted sense of humor. There's still a clip on Youtube of me getting 'knocked out' by Midget Mr. T. They don't seem too aggressive to me as far as asking for money, but if you take their picture, you should definitely thrown them something.

    TFK
     
  9. marksind

    marksind VIP Whale

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    Homeless

    Seems like there are a lot more outright beggars on Fremont than even six months ago. The downtown cops used to give them a hard time, which discouraged them from congregating right in the middle of all the action. One told me earlier this year that his friend had gotten a ticket for "impeding the flight of a pigeon." Whatever, he said the cops didn't make it pleasant for them. Maybe it's budget cutbacks (I know North Las Vegas has cut back their police force and is even considering bankruptcy), or maybe the ACLU won a case.

    Now, I see fewer cops making the rounds and a lot more beggars. Who knows how many of these folks are actually homeless? We've got a ton of them around suburban Seattle, and when interviewed by local media it frequently turns out that they are homeless as a lifestyle choice - more vagabonds than bums. We've got a very socially sympathetic climate here (as well as mild weather), so they know they'll get a meal and an official "tent city" to sleep in.

    No doubt it's not too hard to hustle a few bucks in Vegas with all the tourist traffic, and the weather's not going to kill you (at least this time of year).
     
  10. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    You are correct about the problems in the city of North Las Vegas, but Fremont St and all of downtown is in the City of Las Vegas, not NLV. And the Strip is not in the City of Las Vegas, but rather it is in the Town of Paradise.

    The police force is the same for both the Strip and the City of LV, Clark County Metro Police, but North Las Vegas has its own city services including police.

    Just wanted to point that out.:peace:
     
  11. bbking

    bbking Tourist

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    I actually read an article in a Vegas paper once that said some people used panhandling as a second job.Come home from their day job,change clothes and go to their "second" job.
     
  12. 1BETSY1

    1BETSY1 Tourist

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    Funny, I've been approached by the same middle aged black guy for change for the last couple of years. He's not dressed like a bum and makes his way very discreetly through the crowds.
     
  13. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    Seems like its been this way since I started going to LV in the 80s.
     
    Annual CCA (Casino Collectibles Association) Show at South Point
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  14. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    Every major city I've ever been to has the homeless/beggar issue... I've never thought Las Vegas was any worse than any of the others. I do agree that the "entertainers" on the Strip are out of control now.
     
  15. marksind

    marksind VIP Whale

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    Boundaries

    Joe,

    Yeah, North Las Vegas is a different entity. I was just supposing that budgets may be tight for the city of Las Vegas as well. Doesn't seem like there is the visible police presence downtown the past couple of times I've been that there was even earlier this year.

    Different (but sort of related) thing I always find interesting - few seem to know that there is a prison and a jail immediately south of the Golden Nugget. The prison is a women's prison. A friend of mine was staying at the Nugget a few months ago and went out back to have a cigarette. A woman approached him and asked him for a smoke. He obliged and she thanked him, saying it'd been a long time. He said "really?" and she said "yeah, they just released me." I saw a young man get put out the jail release door a couple of weeks ago while I was walking back to the Nugget from the transit center. His mother and girlfriend were waiting for him with his bicycle. Class all the way!
     
  16. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

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    There are lots of homeless downtown but there is also a lot of security. Way more then you see on the strip.

    They dont generally allow the homeless to hang around. They can to some degree but usually they make them keep moving.

    when the bands are playing they pretty much leave them alone.

    As for the street performers you will see all types. i think they bring a bit of spice to the place. if you dont want your picture taken with them then just go about your business.

    If I had a schtick i would certainly take advantage of some tax free dollars by letting people take my picture.

    Imagine if you worked part time during the day and subsidized your check by hanging out on fremont street at night. sounds pretty sweet if you ask me. No taxes, no hassles.

    I also am pretty sure that they have to have a permit to work there. They might not get paid for it but certainly they have to be authorized to be there in case of injury.
     
  17. liteman

    liteman Old Timer

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    A friend and I were walking Fremont street and she was carrying a takeout box. (It was a burger and fries from Binions.) A girl asked her if she could have it not knowing or caring what it was. She gave it to her. I have no problem sharing with the needy, but sometimes it's a judgement call. Homeless and street performers don't bother me near as much as porn slappers. I have never seen them downtown.
     
  18. ORANGECTYNY

    ORANGECTYNY Tourist

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    I haven't been back to Fremont in over a year..so it will be interesting to see if there are more "entertainers" than last time. As cousineddie said, if you don't want to be bothered they will generally leave you alone.

    11 days to Vegas!
     
  19. Smo

    Smo Mr. Las Vegas

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    Was just there 4 weeks ago, walked around on a Monday afternoon/evening hitting all the casino's on Fremont Street and never once was approached for money. Maybe it's because I walk around looking like Chuck Norris and it scares the hell outta 'em!

    25 years later I still love downtown and will stay there even longer on my next trip!
     
  20. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

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    Her name is Priscilla, the cocktail waitress at Binion's ... she's been there for many years. We got to know her very well, when we were regulars at Binion's, back when Jack Binion ran the place. We stopped in there back in September, just to say hello.
     
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