I was panhandled at the Santa Rosa Plaza this weekend. Living close to the Haight, I'm used to being panhandled, but I was taken completely by surprise when it happened in such a suburban setting. This was no street urchin. The girl who asked me for money looked like a typical suburban teenager, with converse shoes, Levis, a hoodie & salon highlights. She looked clean and well-fed. I though she was asking for change for a dollar, so when she said "I just need to buy a hamburger," I was completely taken aback. What's that about? Have parents stopped teaching their children that it's rude to ask strangers for money?
This mall seems to attract a disproportionate amount of teenagers. Is it the only place for kids to go in Santa Rosa? The stores could certainly be a draw to this audience. The stores are pretty typical mid-level retail with a high emphasis on teenwear: Forever 21, Hot Topic, Torrid, Gap, Express, and a few blah staples: Bath & Bodyworks, Victoria's Secret and Lane Bryant. The anchor stores are a bit grotty: an old, unrefurbished Sears, a low-end Macy's and an OK Mervyns.
Mall security is fairly vigilant. I was told not to take any pictures for "copyright reasons." What's behind that weird rule? How does taking pictures of mall stores violate copyright? It's not like sneaking photos at a fashion show in Milan to copy in a back street sweatshop.
1071 Santa Rosa Plaza
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
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4 comments:
i live in santa rosa, and most of the teenagers here do their hair themselves and the ones that ask for money usually need change for something to eat, drink, or to take a bus, so get over it.
Hello anonymous - You're missing my point.
My question was: When did it become OK to ask strangers for money for something that does not appear to be a desperate situation?
OK that person is an idiot. Its not OK to ask for money and it's not "normal". I was a teenage menace hanging out at Santa Rosa Plaza 20 yrs ago. Imagine its much worse now!!
Anonymous said...
i live in santa rosa, and most of the teenagers here do their hair themselves and the ones that ask for money usually need change for something to eat, drink, or to take a bus, so get over it.
8:16 AM, August 02, 2007
If you stated a comment like that, that must've meant that you were like that too when you were their age.
No.. it is NOT OK to ask stranger for money to buy something else if teens dress so decent "not homeless"
Teenager who ask stranger for money would be the following:
1: Their parent didn't teach them well enough or their parent weren't around
2: Lazy. If they can get to the mall, "By whatever transportation it was, then they would have some sort of change to buy food"
3: Teen need to get a life or do some chores around the house to get some $$$.
4: Teenager from Santa Rosa are such a spoiled BRAT! They need to learn how to be mature & have enough change with them everytime.
6-15-08
ps: I grew up in the South Bay and yes I was a teeanger once who also go to the mall, BUT I HAVE MY own money without asking stranger.
Please also consider, what happen if young teenager ask for change from a stranger who is not "nice".
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