I have spent the past year living out of state and was surprised upon my return to see the same panhandlers in town. I have nothing against begging if you are in need, but I question the local availability of services. Newport, Ore., for example, determines in a very short time which panhandlers hide their new van behind the store, who ran out of money while traveling through, and who is homeless. The grifters were threatened with arrest, the hitchers got a bus ticket home, and the truly needy got offered help.

They found the majority earned almost an average of $150 per day. It may not be the case in Oak Harbor, but is anybody looking? Or helping?

Mike Starring

Oak Harbor