Tropicana shooting
One man was wounded and two suspects captured.
http://6abc.com/news/2-men-arrested-in-tropicana-casino-shooting/1650687/
Just a few months ago a robber was shot dead by the police and an officer nearly died from a gunshot wound to the head just outside Caesar's.
http://nypost.com/2016/09/03/suspect-killed-officer-injured-in-atlantic-city-shooting/
Stay safe folks! There is usually an uptick in street crimes just before the Holidays..
Harrah's Philly (Chester) is sketchier in my opinion, at least the surrounding area. And my GPS always like to take me down the back streets there, not a great place but still I haven't had any issues. I don't use the parking garage there anymore, people have approached me too many times (all ended up being friendly) but I don't feel like there is enough security in that area.
I might do valet parking more often in AC.
My preference is a well lit surface lot.
When approached by panhandlers or other nefarious types I have a canned response. " Sorry lost everything back there" and point to a casino. That tells them I have no money. The worst thing to do IMHO is to stop and engage them. They may ask for the time, cigarrette, change etc.When you stop it tells them you may not have good street smarts. You then can be sized up for expensive looking jewelry etc. Being kind and curteous doesn't work. Keep walking.....
Quote: gamerfreakThis is scary, but I've spent a good bit of time in AC and have never felt unsafe, or even seen anyone acting sketchy.
Harrah's Philly (Chester) is sketchier in my opinion, at least the surrounding area. And my GPS always like to take me down the back streets there, not a great place but still I haven't had any issues. I don't use the parking garage there anymore, people have approached me too many times (all ended up being friendly) but I don't feel like there is enough security in that area.
I might do valet parking more often in AC.
Yeah my first time there I was like wow this looks like a good area. Then I passed the prison and chuckled.
Most places thrive if women feel safe in the parking lots and elevators, their fears don't have to be rational.
Lighting ... alarm buttons... golf cart patrols...whatever it takes.
The Circus Circus opened with strict orders: every shift had to have a pickup truck on patrol in the parking areas that had a large dog cage in it. Dead animals are bad publicity. So are dead patrons. The casino had large warning signs at each doorway about heat and pets in the cars. And the security patrol always had at least one vehicle on duty where they could immediately remove the pet.
Nowadays I think the bean counting MBAs just don't really care about anything since they know they have more lawyers, more speech writers and more staying power than any of their customers.
Expensive Jewelry? Heck, they will take your junk jewelry ... may even discard it later, but they will take it and see what its worth.Quote: dave12038457You then can be sized up for expensive looking jewelry etc. Being kind and curteous doesn't work. Keep walking.....
In Brazil, hotel managers would warn tourists.. a man on a motorbike will swing a machete and take the watch off your hand. He will discard the hand about a hundred yards ahead, he may or may not discard the watch there too, but he will discard the hand there.
Quote: dave12038457When approached by panhandlers or other nefarious types
When we treat someone like they are less than human, we are the nefarious ones, not them.
Panhandling is not a crime and most of them are not criminals. If they ask for money, not only will I usually give them some, I'll take the time to look at them, talk to them, and treat them like they're a person.
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Atlantic-City-Requires-Beggar-Permits_Philadelphia.html
So panhandling is against the law but is permitted.
Many panhandlers use their money for liquor and drugs. If left unchecked it quickly gets out of hand.
I have been panhandled 3-4 times during a 1/2 hour walk. Some panhandlers can be rather aggressive to those they perceive as weak.
By giving to them you may be supporting an addiction and an activity that is counter productive to promoting tourism.
Quote: dave12038457In A.C. a permit is required to panhandle.
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Atlantic-City-Requires-Beggar-Permits_Philadelphia.html So panhandling is against the law but is permitted.
That means it not only is legal, but also approved by the city (in addition to the first amendment of the Constitution).
Many of us who aren't panhandlers also spend our money on liquor and drugs. Whenever I give someone my money I understand they are going to use it for whatever reason they value most. I also understand that whenever someone's life is so messed up they have to resort to begging it means their values are far different than most people's. I've heard it before that we shouldn't give them money because they'll spend it on booze or drugs and my answer is always "I hope they do." It's the only way I know to help them find some sort of relief from their life. When you pass by someone who's begging for change what do you do to help improve his life other than ignore him as if he weren't even a human?
I usually do ask them what they're going to buy, sometimes it's beer or cigarettes, most often it's the dollar menu at McDonald's. Sometimes it's a bus pass or a hotel room. In the summer it's most often soda. Sometimes when I buy a fountain drink, I'll refill it on my way out and five it someone in the parking lot. They appreciate it as much as if I gave them $1. Perhaps even more so, because they don't have to go into a store where they might be treated as something less than human.
That means it not only is legal, but also approved by the city (in addition to the first amendment of the Constitution)."
Well I am not a constitutional lawyer nor do I play one on T.V. But I seriously doubt that panhandling that is a nuisance "just like shouting through a bullhorn at 3 a.m." Falls under the category of protected speech.
As for" panhandling being legal and approved by the city." Not so fast, technically a permit mearly allows one to... break the law. You need a drivers license to legally operate a motor vehicle. If you operate a motor vehicle without a license you are breaking the law.
However, you are issued a learners permit permitting you to... break the law in order to get a license.
A permit and a license are not the same thing.
I highly doubt panhandling is approved of by the city.
In limited cases it is only permitted.
Just my .02
Quote: TomG
Panhandling is not a crime and most of them are not criminals. If they ask for money, not only will I usually give them some, I'll take the time to look at them, talk to them, and treat them like they're a person.
A....it should be.
B....good for you, continue to enable them.
Quote: TomGThat means it not only is legal, but also approved by the city (in addition to the first amendment of the Constitution).
Many of us who aren't panhandlers also spend our money on liquor and drugs. Whenever I give someone my money I understand they are going to use it for whatever reason they value most. I also understand that whenever someone's life is so messed up they have to resort to begging it means their values are far different than most people's. I've heard it before that we shouldn't give them money because they'll spend it on booze or drugs and my answer is always "I hope they do." It's the only way I know to help them find some sort of relief from their life. When you pass by someone who's begging for change what do you do to help improve his life other than ignore him as if he weren't even a human?
I usually do ask them what they're going to buy, sometimes it's beer or cigarettes, most often it's the dollar menu at McDonald's. Sometimes it's a bus pass or a hotel room. In the summer it's most often soda. Sometimes when I buy a fountain drink, I'll refill it on my way out and five it someone in the parking lot. They appreciate it as much as if I gave them $1. Perhaps even more so, because they don't have to go into a store where they might be treated as something less than human.
I do applaud you for helping. I don't like helping pan handlers because I feel there are better ways to go about earning some money. There are so many organizations to help people.
I also don't like charities because so much of it goes to the organizers pockets and expenses.
I help people quite often. A few summers ago in AC my wife and I were at the outlets and my wife bought a $200 purse at Michael kors I think. We walked over to mcd for lunch and as we were eating we over heard a guy almost crying to someone on the phone. He had just gotten laid off by revel or a construction company working in Revel. Anyways, he told her he found .50 on the ground and that gave him enough to buy a cheeseburger. He had mentioned that he has $4.00 left and should have enough money to buy a small pack of diapers. Anways, we ended up buying him a meal, bought a few extra cheeseburgers to take home, and gave him the diapers we had with us. We may have even given him a few bucks, I can't remember. That is the way we like to help.
We used to donate good to the food bank until we were turned away once because I had a case of beans and they didn't want them because people never want them
Really? Someone is coming to a food bank and are picky about what they get. Some people are just amazing.
I would much prefer to help someone that seemed to be really trying than to give money to basically hopeless humans that have given up on life. If you can't find sone sort of help then you aernt trying hard enough.
Quote: GWAE
I would much prefer to help someone that seemed to be really trying than to give money to basically hopeless humans that have given up on life.
But those of us who are "basically hopeless" are the ones who most need our help.
My Mother did volunteer work at a local food bank.
Once a woman was picking up her allotment of groceries. Since she said she had a bad back my Mother carried her groceries to her car for her.
This woman drove a very nice car and there was a young man wearing headphones sitting in it.
Why this woman asked an 80 year old woman to carry her stuff when she had what appeared to be a healthy young man in the car defies both logic and courtesy.
Like I said some people are just looking for a free ride.
Of all the panhandlers that have approached me over the years, not one asked if I knew were he/she could get a job.I suppose it sounds cruel and heartless but age and experience has made me cynical of those who look young and healthy enough to work but instead beg.
Quote: GWAEWe used to donate good to the food bank until we were turned away once because I had a case of beans and they didn't want them because people never want them
Really? Someone is coming to a food bank and are picky about what they get. Some people are just amazing.
"Never want them," or is it that the food bank gets so many cans of beans that they don't know what to do with them all, while they don't get nearly enough of the things that people need to eat?
The version I heard was, instead of giving a food bank cans, give it money and let it decide what food to buy with it - especially as it can probably get a much better deal on canned goods than you did.
Quote: ThatDonGuy"Never want them," or is it that the food bank gets so many cans of beans that they don't know what to do with them all, while they don't get nearly enough of the things that people need to eat?
The version I heard was, instead of giving a food bank cans, give it money and let it decide what food to buy with it - especially as it can probably get a much better deal on canned goods than you did.
Cash is king. Our local food bank sometimes turns away food because they have such a surplus. I don't see them turning away money though.
Quote: gamerfreakCash is king. Our local food bank sometimes turns away food because they have such a surplus. I don't see them turning away money though.
There's a very good reason for that; cash doesn't have an expiration date.
Quote: ThatDonGuy"Never want them," or is it that the food bank gets so many cans of beans that they don't know what to do with them all, while they don't get nearly enough of the things that people need to eat?
The version I heard was, instead of giving a food bank cans, give it money and let it decide what food to buy with it - especially as it can probably get a much better deal on canned goods than you did.
Now they wouldn't get as good of a deal. I consider myself to be one of the original extreme coupon nuts. I even had a website in 2000 with all details and such. I would go to the grocery store and get complete carts full for almost nothing and in some cases nothing. In this case I had a ton of beans that were completely free. I couldn't afford to give them money so I did what I thought was an acceptable thing and that was look for other ways to help. It would take me hours upon hours to obtain the coupons and go to the store.
Quote: BozA....it should be.
B....good for you, continue to enable them.
I TOTALLY disagree with you. Asking for help is NEVER a crime.
Quote: MrVFunny how many "houseless" (current buzzword in PDX for "homeless") folks have smart phones.
Perfect! I know people who don't have cars and can't pay their rent but always have smokes and a $110 cell phone bill. And the liberals will tell you they "need" the phone to get interviews.
Quote: speedycrapI TOTALLY disagree with you. Asking for help is NEVER a crime.
Asking for "help" with a "Why lie? Need weed" sign may not be a crime but it shows you made your choices in life. And I don't mean the weed.
Quote: BozAsking for "help" with a "Why lie? Need weed" sign may not be a crime but it shows you made your choices in life. And I don't mean the weed.
You're conservative...but want to ban something you don't agree with personally. That sounds very liberal to me.
So which is it?
Quote: TomGWhen we treat someone like they are less than human, we are the nefarious ones, not them.
Panhandling is not a crime and most of them are not criminals. If they ask for money, not only will I usually give them some, I'll take the time to look at them, talk to them, and treat them like they're a person.
Here's the deal. I can't go into a supermarket without some big strong 20 year old, dressed in decent clothing, healthy as an ox, hitting me up for a few bucks. Not a damn thing wrong with him. Happens all the time. Naturally, I tell them to "get a fkg job you bum". There's been times when they've almost kicked my ass.
Meanwhile, I've spent a fortune over the years helping stray cats and stray dogs and finding injured animals and maxing out my credit card at the emergency vet, trying to get them adopted, a lot of time and money over the years. I ain't complaining, I feel good about it and would never turn my back on a little animal in need. But these BUMS with nothing wrong with them, can go fk themselves.
I tellya what. You take care of the bums, and I'll take care of the kittens. I think you're making a mistake, but it's none of my business.
Quote: gamerfreakYou're conservative...but want to ban something you don't agree with personally. That sounds very liberal to me.
So which is it?
No just debating if panhandling is a crime. Opportunities are out there for those willing to work, but most of those doing it have chosen to ignore them. Has nothing to do with politics.
Quote: ThatDonGuyThere's a very good reason for that; cash doesn't have an expiration date.
Not sure a can a beans has one either. At least one anyone really needs to worry about. There's usually so much sodium, it could probably be edible from the 1950s if you had nothing left to eat.
Quote: BozNo just debating if panhandling is a crime. Opportunities are out there for those willing to work, but most of those doing it have chosen to ignore them. Has nothing to do with politics.
Hey you started it with liberal jab :)
I think you are missing my point. I'm assuming you are conservative from your "the liberals would tell you..." comment. One of the overreaching themes of conservatism in the U.S. is small government, which I am also going to assume you are a fan of.
There is nothing small government about making panhandling illegal. So I'll ask again, which is it?
I'll also add that most homelessness has nothing to do with "choosing to ignore" job opportunities. It's often a sad result of mental illness.
Yes conservatives do tend to believe in smaller government.
However, smaller government doesn't mean conservatives would approve of a lawless society.
Rather the complete opposite. Conservatives tend to support law and order in the street via the police and a strong military. When conservatives speak of "smaller government" it is about the many government programs,studies and regulations that encumber businesses and citizens alike.
I for one find it most ironic that it is very difficult to start a small business, yet easy to sneak into the country....
Why do you think it's difficult to start a small business? Have you ever tried but failed to start a business?Quote: dave12038457I for one find it most ironic that it is very difficult to start a small business, yet easy to sneak into the country....
It's difficult to be successful as a small businessperson, but that's very, very different from merely starting a business in the first place. Deciding to become an AP is "starting a small business" and there are almost zero barriers to entry for that. I started a small business over 15 years ago with nothing more than a laptop, an Internet connection, and -- to quote Poirot -- the little grey cells.
Only 1 in 3 small businesses survive after 10 years.
https://www.fundera.com/blog/small-business-statistics
I was speaking of traditional brick and mortar small business. Not internet based.
Be it restaurant, dental office, or quick-mart: they all require a substantial capital outlay, a thing most people do not have, and cannot access.
I belive half of America, at least, lives paycheck to paycheck, if they're lucky enough to have a paycheck.
Those with the money to open a small business choose not to, because their current endeavor is working well enough for them.
Quote: MrVTry opening up a small business today in a "brick and mortar" environment.
Be it restaurant, dental office, or quick-mart: they all require a substantial capital outlay, a thing most people do not have, and cannot access.
I belive half of America, at least, lives paycheck to paycheck, if they're lucky enough to have a paycheck.
Those with the money to open a small business choose not to, because their current endeavor is working well enough for them.
Unfortunately any kind of real-estate takes a huge amount of capital and/or overhead. I'm in the process of buying my first house, and even at a budget of less than $200k (which will barely buy you a crack-house in many areas), the upfront cash outlay is like $50k.
No, your dad should have cleaned the Whopper off of his face and given the guy twenty bucks.
Or else shot the miserable failure, to put him out of his misery and save We The People to cost of coddling and supporting this clearly defective person.
Why? Are Internet-based businesses somehow less legitimate? Software startups often do more revenue per employee than many other types of 10 or 20-person businesses and those can be run entirely from the employees' homes. Or a local coffeeshop. Being an AP apparently requires little more than an initial bankroll and a means of transportation.Quote: dave12038457I was speaking of traditional brick and mortar small business. Not internet based.
Obviously any business requires some initial resources besides the knowledge of its employees, and what those are depends on the type of business. But the true difficulty in starting a business isn't obtaining those resources, it's cultivating the talent to be able to obtain them. Not everyone is an entrepreneur but many more could be with the right training and work ethic.
Quote: MrVOh, but it's not the poor bum's fault: he must have been "mentally ill," which many seem to think absolves suchsouls of any vestige of personal responsibility.
No, your dad should have cleaned the Whopper off of his face and given the guy twenty bucks.
Or else shot the miserable failure, to put him out of his misery and save We The People to cost of coddling and supporting this clearly defective person.
Right I am also sure mental illness is fake. Just like climate change.
A big part of not wanting to open a small business has to do with the idiotic employer-centric healthcare system in this country. Other countries that have portable healthcare (not tied to an employer) have a much higher percentage of entrepreneurs. In this country, in order to start a business, you not only have to be willing to quit your stable day job, you also have to be willing to brave the individual health insurance market. That explains why there are so few newer parents starting businesses. Our entrepreneur class is bimodal -- it's either 20-somethings who don't have any family responsibilities yet or it's 50-somethings who already got the kids to college. Missing out on that 30- and 40-year old crowd is costing us dearly in terms of GDP growth.Quote: MrVTry opening up a small business today in a "brick and mortar" environment.
Be it restaurant, dental office, or quick-mart: they all require a substantial capital outlay, a thing most people do not have, and cannot access.
I belive half of America, at least, lives paycheck to paycheck, if they're lucky enough to have a paycheck.
Those with the money to open a small business choose not to, because their current endeavor is working well enough for them.
But speaking of brick and mortar, if I manage to retire in the next decade, I will rectify the sad circumstance that is the closing of Jimmy Mak's. I'm thinking a jazz club as a non-profit could be a more easily-sustained venture and would make a great retirement job. I need to pencil it out but I'm too busy just now.
Quote: MathExtremistA big part of not wanting to open a small business has to do with the idiotic employer-centric healthcare system in this country. Other countries that have portable healthcare (not tied to an employer) have a much higher percentage of entrepreneurs. In this country, in order to start a business, you not only have to be willing to quit your stable day job, you also have to be willing to brave the individual health insurance market.
I thought you guys solved that. Your hero stood up there yesterday and stated how many more people have insurance now. And the majority of people can find a policy for under a $100 a month with the subsidies. And since most new businesses don't provide much income in the first few years, new business owner should qualify, problem solved.
Sorry, it's not a big part. A much bigger part is the work ethic and personal responsibility needed to open and grow a successful business. And most of today's younger generation don't have those tools because they never were required to have them, even if mommy and daddy had the money to help them.
Quote: BozI thought you guys solved that. Your hero stood up there yesterday and stated how many more people have insurance now. And the majority of people can find a policy for under a $100 a month with the subsidies. And since most new businesses don't provide much income in the first few years, new business owner should qualify, problem solved.
Yea the affordable care act was a huge disappointment is this regard. I'm hoping whatever Trump plans to do will help the situation, but it's not like he has laid out a clear plan so I am not holding my breath. I don't think either political party has the solution to the healthcare problems in our country.
Quote: dave12038457I for one find it most ironic that it is very difficult to start a small business, yet easy to sneak into the country....
The reason most Americans will find it very difficult to start a small (or large) business has nothing to do with the size of our government. It's because most Americas lack enough ingenuity, are too paralyzed by fear, unable to handle discomfort, or simply have better options working for someone else. Whereas successful border jumpers seem to have sufficient ingenuity, aren't afraid to fail, can handle rough situations, and don't have any other options to escape hardship.
That is why people on food stamps often hang out at supermarkets trying to turn stamps (which are electronic now) into alcohol, tobacco or some other substance of choice. They may still need the cell phone for interviews but they surely need the booze/drugs first. They don't want to go to a job interview and they certainly don't want to go through the useless motions of a job interview without having had their equivalent of a homeowner's "cup of coffee".Quote: BozPerfect! I know people who don't have cars and can't pay their rent but always have smokes and a $110 cell phone bill. And the liberals will tell you they "need" the phone to get interviews.
Food banks will be creative and will market their surplus itesm but only if they are forced to do so. That is why food banks turn away canned beans (or some local equivalent), its because they can do so. Force them to put limits on some items and they will put up a sign saying 'no limits on canned beans' or they will provide pre printed cards about 'exciting new recipe for canned beans'.
Some food bank operators take kick backs to let people in ... those shopers then load up and drive on to the next food bank. The merchandise probably winds up in a bodega somewhere that has no public transportation for the elderly in the area who have no choice but to shop locally or starve.
Quote: NathanWhile we were we riding past a highway one day, my sister and I spotted a disheveled bum who looked like a dirty Jesus, LOL holding a sign that says,"I am hungry. Will work for food." He flipped over the sign and the other side said,"Truth is, I really just want beer!" My sister and I were amused by his honesty.
He just might be a TeeTotaler with a clever marketing scheme.
Its like the old Subways are For Sleeping: One down and out bum got himself cleaned up and went for a job interview because they changed the subway schedule and he now had to wake up and change trains in the middle of the night. When he could sleep undisturbed it was alright.
