Branford, Guilford Among Towns With Panhandlers Working Streets

The issue of panhandling is certainly not new. Big cities such as New York, San Francisco and others have had to deal with the issue for decades. Even in the tiny state of Connecticut panhandling is a frequent site in big cities such as New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport.

What’s relatively new is that panhandling has become a regular happening in what some would say are the more affluent towns in Connecticut - including Guilford and Branford.

This summer there have been at least two panhandlers on a daily basis that have sat by what is known as the “pretzel” area of Branford - near Exit 53. The panhandlers, often shirtless, carry signs asking for money from passing motorists.

In nearby Guilford, at least one panhandler has taken up a steady residence outside the Big Y shopping complex off Route 1 - again asking those coming and going for money.

How to deal with panhandling is a tricky problem for police.

Asked how they deal with it in Branford, Deputy Chief Jonathan Mulhern said the following:

“The issue of pan handling is certainly something that has gotten some attention over the past few years.

“You are correct that those pan handling will often position themselves near shopping areas and highway exits (pretzel fits both criteria),” Mulhern said.

“Unless a municipality has an “aggressive” panhandling ordinance, simple pan handling is not illegal and it is tied to the 1st amendment. Some commercial properties will ban pan handling, soliciting, and loitering by proper signage. We could issue a ticket for the offense of Reckless Use of the Highway by Pedestrian in cases where the person(s) are in the roadway obstructing traffic and/or creating a hazard,” Mulhern commented.

“The majority of the time is it a balancing act of protecting the rights of the individual,” Mulhern added. “This certainly has a social services component that exceeds the scope of police services.”

In the US, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty views begging as “a very basic form of speech, asking your fellow human beings for help when you’re in a desperate situation ... It deserves, as much as any other speech, to be protected.” Yet its study of 187 US cities last year found that 76% prohibit begging in specific public places, while 24% impose city-wide bans.

One of the concerns the police and others have for those panhandling this summer in Connecticut is the extreme hot weather that the panhandlers are experiencing.

While working on this story, this Patch reporter on a recent 90-plus degree today saw a Branford policeman drive up to two panhandlers while they were sitting at their regular posts in the sweltering heat.

The officer rolled down his window - and handed both panhandlers a bottle of water to cool them off.

Photos by Jack Kramer