Dozens of new signs are going up this weekend in Deep Ellum, as the community tries a unique approach to the panhandling epidemic that won't seem to go away.
Business owners are putting up signs targeted -- not at the panhandlers themselves -- but the visitors and customers who might be inclined to reach into their pockets.
Victoria Villarreal has been a chef in Deep Ellum for years. She's chopping and cooking for more dinner guests every week at the popular Anvil Pub.
"Since Deep Ellum has been blowing up, there's so many new places to go eat and drink, etc," she said. "People come from all over to be part of this."
In recent months, more panhandlers have set up shop in this community, too.
Villareal says many of them are aggressive, and she appreciates a new anti-panhandling police initiative that kicked off last week.
Dallas police say they're pulling more officers from the traffic unit to patrol exclusively in downtown and Deep Ellum, and the officers have been directed to arrest aggressive and confrontational panhandlers.
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Dozens have been arrested in the last two weeks.
But Villareal says she's also a fan of the Deep Ellum Foundation's new plan to post signs asking people to donate to charity instead.
The signs say "Use Your Change For A Change" and asks people to visit DeepEllumCares.com for a list of local charities that feed and serve the homeless.
"I think the signs are great, especially for visitors," Villarreal said. "It might totally let you avoid a bad situation. And I don't want any visitors in my part of town to have a bad time."
The signs are the brainchild of the Deep Ellum Foundation.
They printed 50 this week. Some are already up and many more are going up this weekend at restaurants and parking lots.
"Everyone wants to give. It makes you feel better if you give, you think you're helping. But from the research we've done, it doesn't help at all. In fact, it only hurts the problem," said director Jessica Burnham. "So we're simply posting the reminder that if you want to give effectively, give to charity."
She's also handing out pamphlets to shops and restaurants that they can in turn give to the homeless, telling them where to go for help.
Deep Ellum business owners pay a special tax because the neighborhood is designated as a "Public Improvement District". The Deep Ellum Foundation is able to use some of that money to improve and enhance the community.
Since mid-January, the Deep Ellum Foundation has also been using a portion of that money to pay for a pair of off-duty Dallas police officers to patrol, six nights a week.
There are no plans to stop the extra patrols anytime soon, even despite the new on-duty DPD anti-panhandling initiative.
"We've noticed the on-duty officers are really in the squad car mostly" Burnham explained. "Our [Neighborhood Patrol] is unique in that it’s really focused on off-duty officers who can be on foot, patrolling in the core of Deep Ellum. They get to know the business owners. They’re making a strong visual presence."
