Reports of aggressive panhandling in Downtown Dallas has prompted two related responses from concerned citizens and business interests.
7-Eleven has added overnight, armed security guards at ten of its downtown locations.
“The safety and well-being of our 7-Eleven employees is a top priority,” wrote Mark Stinde, 7-Eleven vice president of asset protection, in a statement explaining the decision. “In the case of Downtown Dallas, we determined that additional security was needed to patrol stores. That may not always be the case, but today it is.”
Prior to the announcement of the added security last month, people who call downtown home have been busy documenting what they say is a familiar sight – apparent homeless people harassing them for money.
The Twitter account @CleanUpDowntown was created to surreptitiously take and share pictures and videos of panhandlers in the city center.
The tweets are typically tagged #enforce and specifically mention the Dallas Police Department Twitter account, @DallasPD.
“I think it’s a great tactic, as far as documentation is concerned,” said Jesse Moreno, a lifelong Dallas resident who supports the efforts of @CleanUpDowntown. “That way we’re showing it’s true. This is happening. A picture doesn’t lie.”
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The snapshots shared on social media put faces to the incidents documented by Downtown Dallas, Inc. – a nonprofit that advocates for downtown businesses and residents – in a July letter to Dallas Police Chief David Brown.
“The attention to quality of life and public safety issues in Downtown Dallas has become an urgent concern among our residents, businesses, investors and visitors,” wrote John Crawford, President and CEO of Downtown Dallas, Inc.
The letter highlights concerns about “vagrancy” in the central business district, and cites Dallas police statistics, including 4,649 “quality of life” citations issued by DPD downtown in 2014.
Jesse Moreno told NBCDFW he has seen those concerns play out in real life.
“I witnessed a panhandler approach an individual in their convertible. He snatched his glasses and just started punching the driver,” Moreno recalled about the incident he said he witnessed late last week. “I think our citizens deserve better.”
But not everyone agrees with Moreno and @CleanUpDowntown that publicly documenting pictures of reported panhandlers is the best approach.
“It’s barbaric,” said Niecee X, a community activist and founder of the Black Women’s Defense League of Dallas. “As if [the panhandlers] are not even human.”
Niecee X told NBCDFW the people behind @CleanUpDowntown show a lack of empathy for homeless people and their needs.
As for concerns about being harassed, she acknowledged that she can sympathize.
“Of course I can, and I feel the same way,” said Niecee X. “But you know what can be done? If you seek to help the problem and fix the problem, as opposed to just simply complaining about the problem, then perhaps you’d get a little bit further.”
As an example of how to help, the community activist pointed to a gathering later this month.
On Oct. 25, volunteers with Helping Hands, Healing Hearts will meet at the downtown Dallas Public Library location at 1515 Young Street to collect and distribute donations of items like winter clothes, bus passes, toiletries, food and other necessities.
To those, like Niecee X, who criticize the tactics of @CleanUpDowntown, Jesse Moreno points to the assault he witnessed on the driver in the convertible.
“Would you like to become a victim of this individual?” Moreno said. “That could be you.”
