By Donna Beth Weilenman
Staff Reporter
A visitor to Benicia from Chicago initially felt sympathy for a woman and a little girl who were panhandling near the Bank of America ATM in Southampton Shopping Center.
Now her concern is for the Benicia residents who donated to the woman, saying they may have given money to a scam artist.
Regardless, panhandling, said Benicia police Lt. Frank Hartig, is considered a nuisance and prohibited by state law on public property.
Patsy Ercoli said she was traveling with her daughter about 3 p.m. Wednesday when they saw a sign-carrying woman and a little girl, who appeared to be about 5, standing near the bank machine.
The woman held up a neatly lettered cardboard sign that said she needed money for food and rent.
Ercoli couldn’t stop then, but she couldn’t get the image of a hungry mother and child out of her mind. So she returned in a couple of hours, and saw that the woman and little girl were still there.
She approached the woman and offered to cook them a hot meal. While the woman said she spoke no English, she did tell Ercoli in a heavily accented voice that she was from Sacramento. She refused the offer of a meal, saying she didn’t want food, only money.
Ercoli wondered how the woman and child had traveled to Benicia without money.
She saw a Benicia police cruiser drive by, and noticed that the woman flipped her sign so its plain side faced out, and turned her back to the patrol car.
Ercoli said she watched as a woman in a car gave a boy $20 to hand to the woman; and she saw another motorist hand the woman $10. The woman put the money in a full bag, Ercoli said.
Ercoli said she got the feeling she should watch longer, then concluded, “Oh, it’s a total scam I just witnessed.”
She then saw the woman and child enter a new, dark-blue conversion van driven by a man in his 40s, who approached the two from his parking spot a distance from where the pair had been standing. Then they drove off.
“She’s making a killing. I have to work four hours for $30,” Ercoli said. She said a clerk in Raley’s Supermarket told her the woman is known at the store, having been escorted out of the store at least once.
She said she wanted the story told because she believes the woman is scamming generous Benicia residents who may believe they are helping a young woman in need.
Hartig said panhandling is governed under Section 5.28 of Benicia Municipal Code.
Under city law, unregulated solicitation, canvassing and peddling can be considered a nuisance, and no one may solicit, canvass or peddle without a tax collector-issued registration permit.
California Penal Code 647 (C) prohibits people from accosting others to beg or solicit alms, describing the misdemeanor as a type of disorderly conduct.
People who are asking for money are treated differently if they are on private property where the landowner has given permission to beg, instead of public land, where city code requires a solicitor to obtain a permit first, Hartig said.
In the former case, if the property owner supports the activity, “there’s nothing we can do.” Property owners who don’t want a solicitor on the premise may call police to intervene, he said, and those witnessing begging in public areas should do the same.
As for the specific individuals Ercoli saw, Hartig said, “I’m not saying it’s criminal activity. People should be calling us.”
As for Ercoli’s worries that residents are being ripped off, he said, “They don’t have to give if they don’t want to.”
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I saw her several times at Raleys. Once she even came up to me asking for money and she spoke english. I told the manager. Its was weard because she was standing by the chart return. I saw her the other day standing by southampton. She was scary looking like she might flip out at any minute.
Since people are mentioning it there is a scam artist at the Shell near the Interchange where Sonoma crosses 37. He walks up and tells you that he was heading to San Rafael with his wife and kid when he ran out of gas on 37. He even has a gas can with him. He ask if you could buy a little gas or a spare just little money so he can get home. The can is small and he acts worried if it can an carry enough gas. Most people give him a 10 to make sure. I did it the first time. Then I saw him do it to another person and then he came write around and started to do it again with me again before he noticed I was the same person. I find his actions thoroughly disgusting because when I was a young man I did run out of gas, what would have happened if I met a person like me who was conned by someone like this jerk.
Everyone asking you for money in Vallejo is a scam artist. You can count on that. My favorite are the “deaf” people in the Target parking lot.
On a shopping center corner with a sign SHOULD BE A SIGN ITS A SCAM!!!!….if you go to Vallejo – they are all over. Home Depot, Target, etc…If you wait, they all get into a big white passenger van. It kills me when people give them hard earned money. If you feel the need to give money, give to your local homeless shelter or soup kitchen (who will take FOOD too). If these people are desperate enough, they would find what they need there if we all donate appropriately. – Inside Edition is doing a piece today on this kind of crookery – (picture of a man in a wheelchair) This panhandler would like you to think that he’s a poor soul with a mental disability who’s confined to a wheelchair. However, it’s all an act…he says he clears up to $100,000 with his scheme. I’m sure the IRS would like to speak with him.
She’s a gypsy scam artist, preying on the good natured people of our town– for shame.
How sad for that child… I saw them out in the rain one day and all I thought was.. CPS needs to take that child. Not only is she scamming people, but she is taking her child out in the cold, as a pawn. That is terrible.
I have seen the same in front of the post office. A Hispanic man woman and 2 children… the man talking on a IPhone until he seen me look at him. Had a sign needing food and rent. Here is a idea, loose the IPhone! Total scam!!
I have to say there is a man who is at SpringsTown who will wash your windows for any amount of donation or a smile. I give him credit at least he is not just standing around with a sign for a handout! I let him wash my windows every now and then. When he runs out of glass cleaner, he heads into the dollar store for more!
OMG, totally racist comment! That phone was given to this poor immigrant when he was released from prison for just being Hispanic. You dear lady should do as your dear leader has mandated and give this poor soul all your money. You should not feel good about letting one of the kingdoms needy actually have to work for money, your duty is to provide for him PERIOD! Please go pray to obama for forgiveness.
I like Obama… you are just a poor looser. Sir you sound like the racist one. Might you be the one out front of the postoffice with the Hitler looking Obama sign TRYING to impeach our President? I feel sorry you are such a unhappy person.
Yes, many of these people are probably preying on your good nature and generosity – and are doing so by telling lies; however, if they were really well-off do you think they would be out there at all?
Just what are you talking about.? Do you not notice a scam when you see one. Very Liberal Socialist comment.
This is not a scam. This behavior is now to be considered normal by royal decree from King Obama. Those that have must give to those that don’t, PERIOD.
What do I think? I think this is an example of my prior comment on a different story. The Benicia Herald is not doing its job. Yes, the surface story is that panhandlers can be a nuisance and can be “scamming” the public. What is mentioned here that is worth further investigation is that the woman and child were picked up by a man. Is this an issue of trafficking in Benicia? Are the woman and child being forced to do this or is this a family business? Are there deeper issues at play here? Did this occur during school hours and if so, why is the child out of school? BH, you could do much more to be truly reporting on a story rather than just providing the surface story…
Finally, don’t let a few people who do wrong by your moral code (don’t give panhandlers money if you don’t like supporting this) let you believe that there is not real concern for others in our society. Poverty can be a paycheck away for some. You don’t have to be out on the street to be impoverished.
http://inplainsight.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/04/17088839-poverty-in-america-a-problem-hidden-in-plain-sight?lite
Yes, Watching, I can hear you calling now: Very Liberal Socialist. Kind of like the sound of that; perhaps I’ll change my handle…
This is not new. Goes on all over the USA. Some places handle it better than others. It got out of hand in SF and they did do something about it. Drive to any shopping area. They are all over the place. Yes there could be some legitimate need. But remember we have the services to help those folks. All they need do it go there. It is by all means a scam. Do not change your handle Benicia Resident. If you change to my term Liberal Socialist you will include a great number of folks in this city. They talk big and do nothing. How about Local Caregiver. That is OK.
No one said this was new; the original story or what I’ve posted as additional information. It is a reminder to others that not all poverty or near poverty is visible. You seem to be on the band wagon of once something has been said, it does not need to be said again. In that case you should be howling to the BH about how their story has already been told over and over again, so it should not have made the paper. Stories such as the one presented in the BH promote vitriol towards people who need help thus reducing the provision of such by individuals and government. Most people who use safety net services are not taking advantage of the system or scamming others. Why, then, is it somehow a negative thing to remind people that others who are genuinely trying to get by are out there and to ask that stories of “scammers” holding signs in the street not take over their understanding of who is in need and is not out to scam anyone?
Yes, I support a minimum standard of living for all members of our society, and if people are not paid a living wage, then it is the responsibility of the people and the government to provide supports to allow a minimum standard of living. Government and nonprofits (such as the CAC) designed to help individuals have two faults: (1) when someone apply for services they must jump through so many hoops it makes it difficult to receive services (2) when someone qualifies for services it is only until they meet the inadequate thresholds, supports are removed, and people are often worse off than they were previously.
***Hint Ed – another story opportunity-hidden poverty in Benicia, the city that must be better than and therefore must hide their troubles. Gosh, this place is just like a dysfunctional family trying to keep all the skeletons in the closet…***
Uber Liberal Socialist is the correct name for you. There are plenty of sources out there for people that need help. It appears to me you are also possibly a Marxist. Low income jobs are not meant to be their future. It is a start or an opportunity to earn money while persuing an education to help them as they move thru life. Poverty is not a career destination. Look around you and see the folks that have helped themselves build a bettr life for themselves and their family’s. The government can become a crutch that is difficult to move on without the support of that crutch. The folks that are looking for that crutch to support them for life will always need help. Yes the government will help but at the same time many never want to get rid of that crutch. It becomes their career. The panhandling is a separate issue all together. That must be stopped. The editor did a good job of telling you about the paper. I need not mention it. The editor covered it well You just have not paid attention. By the way while you are at it tell us your name.
So it is a good idea to start requiring BA degrees to flip burgers? Someone has to do these jobs; why not create a living wage so that families don’t have to struggle on WalMart, Burger King, etc. wages? If everyone had a four year degree there would not be enough jobs for everyone. Plus you’d have unskilled labor jobs with no one to fill them. Granted, you said “go to college”, so that could include trade schools, some of the issues faced by the people who attend these generally private for profit businesses are charged an arm and a leg to attend these schools, many low income students drop out with loans and no improved quality of life, far too many of these schools are not accredited, students have no recourse for student loans require repayment (or ever increasing fees and/or interest charges if in deferment) when they get out and the jobs that are advertised by these schools fail provide income as high as had been stated. There are community college options for trade schools, but the community colleges cannot handle the capacity at this point & society has not made providing adequate education at reasonable costs to the public a priority.
This country used to support public education, but now we don’t see the need to provide our citizens with education. Business needs to appease share holders, so taking care of the people who work for them (health coverage and retirement) goes out the window. These things are for the overall public good. They need to either be taken care of by providing workers with enough income to cover these products individually, via government coverage, or employer coverage. There needs to be concensus on one mode of services delivery; however, each sector is now standing around pointing their fingers at the others saying it is “their responsibility”.
When a family gains a $300 monthly boost in income that stops governent supports that are supposed to get people back on their feet that ends up costing the same family $700+ a month more (total added $400+ in bills a month) it just does not make sense.
Thank you for sparing the bellyaching about the paper.
Since when are you a proponent of sticking to the topic of a story?
Glad you like the name; although, it sounds as though you have difficulty with ambiguity… Get over it. Glad everyone gets so hot under the collar about this stuff; it is good that there is some lively discussion somewhere around here. You may not agree with me, and frankly I don’t give a rats behind if you do, but at least there is discussion.
Not doing its job? Come on down to 820 First Street some time for a lesson in how we do our job. With little to no resources and a a small and overburdened staff, not to mention countless other obstacles and difficulties — not least of which is an often ungrateful readership — I challenge anyone to do a better job. Really, pay us a visit. Learn something. Ed.
Ed, Thanks for the reminder about your location; however, I am frequently downtown and am fully aware of your location. You asked for a story idea (under a different post), and I gave it to you. No, the paper is not doing its job; unless, of course, the job of a local paper is to print more opinion columns than news and in what passes as news only scratch the surface of an issue and create a bunch of chatter with no real coverage of the underlying issues or attempt at telling the story beyond the story.
Lovely how you ask for some suggestions and then spit back venom when you get one. I understand readership is down and other sources of revenue have declined precipitiously in across the nation for print media. Some papers will be taking the challenge and making a better paper; others will take the sad route and drift slowly off into uselessness and finally oblivion. This paper looks as though it does not have a desire to take suggestions and make improvements that would provide a paper that really covers issues. Too bad because it would be nice to be able to find a local paper in print in the years down the road rather than looking back at what was…If a paper that is worth the paper it is printed on were to be produced in this city I’d buy a subscription; unfortunately, this is what we get and at this time it is, sadly, not worth the cost of cutting down trees…
Benicia Resident,
Thanks for the input. Call it venom if you like, but you have no idea what you’re talking about. We publish four to five news stories a day, generated in our newsroom, in addition to the wealth of locally produced content you dismiss as “opinion columns.” Those “opinion columns” are the product of your friends and neighbors — well, maybe just your neighbors — who have taken the time to contribute to their local paper. Their efforts, and ours at The Herald, have indeed made this a better paper — better than any of this size you’ll find in the Bay Area.
In today’s paper alone we have a story about the change in leadership at the city’s National Guard post that you will not find anywhere else — no one covered it but us. We cover every city meeting, every event of note, all the local sports and art exhibit openings, the schools and music and theater scenes, and then we respond to readers’ ideas and cover things like the story this thread is under — this story that made it possible for this conversation to take place. It’s this kind of dedication and professionalism that have boosted our circulation and ad revenue in recent years, despite the recession; so much for your analogy about “uselessness and oblivion.”
“If a paper that is worth the paper it is printed on were to be produced in this city I’d buy a subscription … ” Obviously you’re not paying attention. Thanks, but we prefer an informed readership. Ed.
Again, I find interesting that you insist that you are following story leads of readers, but can’t seem to see the opportunity in my suggestions. I’m so sorry that you think I am not paying attention. I attnd city council meetings and have seen the National Guard story. That is local news, yes, but there are many stories out there that are NOT being covered by this paper. It is easy to pick up a phone and the police source, but to *investigate* a story takes effort and talent.
ULS this is a local paper. This paper covers all local issues very well. Sports, city, county, crime you name it. If it is local they cover it very well. If you read their local coverage of a story I do believe you will find out it is more into what the issue and possible the out come will be. Read their stories. This paper can get more out of one story than any on-line alert headline grabbing post can. ULS believe me they are very open to comments that could help contribute to a story. That is what they do. See it, report it and also follow up on it. ULS I get the feeling you are agenda driven. It may be in your best interest to be very clear on what you want reported. Remember this it will not always be reported in the agenda driven way you want or possible they way others want. But in the long run it is reported correctly without any bias. So it is best to tell all of us what your motives and agenda is. That would be a great help. We as commentors might now understand what drives you. I do believe I know. But I would like to see it come from your lips.
There will always be “many stories out there that are not covered by this paper” — no one paper can cover everything that happens in a town, not, at least, with a single staff reporter. What you don’t seem to comprehend is the breadth and depth of coverage we do provide — including peerless investigative work by true professionals with decades in the business — and how much “effort and talent” it requires to provide it. That’s where you are woefully uninformed, as only a non-subscriber can be.
I have given no hint of what I see in your suggestions. I would like to look into them. Do you have anything more to offer besides suggestions — a source, perhaps; a name, even? I know, I know — “find it yourself, that’s what investigative journalists do.” But you forget, or perhaps you never knew, that only big media have the luxury of dedicating a reporter to a single story for days on end (or longer). Not having that luxury, how much criticism can we expect from you and others over the news we miss in the meantime?
Or are you volunteering to write this exposé?
The Herald has been Benicia’s chief source of news for nearly 115 years. It is my privilege to edit and design it. It is the community’s choice whether to read and support it. The more support it receives — and it receives very much indeed — the better it will be. It’s a simple equation. Ed.
Warren Buffett said this tonight on MSNBC (thanks to Pam Powers for sending this to me):
“Newspapers continue to reign supreme, however, in the delivery of local news. If you want to know what’s going on in your town — whether there news is about the mayor or taxes or high school football — there is no substitute for a local newspaper that is doing its job. A reader’s eyes may glaze over after they take in a couple of paragraphs about Canadian tariffs or political developments in Pakistan; a story about the reader himself or his neighbors will be read to the end. Wherever there is a pervasive sense of community, a paper that serves the special informational needs of that community will remain indispensable to a significant portion of its residents.”
That’s what we strive for. Do we always achieve it? No. But show me a community daily in the Bay Area — heck, anywhere — that does better. (The secret: We all work about 50 hours a week and never stop working even when we’re home.) Ed.
http://paidcontent.org/2012/05/17/why-warren-buffett-is-buying-newspapers/
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/06/04/why-warren-buffett-still-buys-newspapers-as-the-industry-sinks.html
Well said. I do believe I just said the same thing. Keep doing what you do and and also do very well. I do believe your very well appreciated in this great city. I also think that is why it is called the Benicia Herald.
The editor is right. They do an oustanding job.
I’m not in the habit of agreeing with Bob, but the Herald is really doing a terrific job. The criticism is way off base.