Panhandlers

Richard Rome is quite correct (letter, May 20): Panhandlers make walking in the downtown Los Angeles area hazardous, to say the least. I work downtown and, between the bus stop and my office, a mere three-block walk, I am asked at least a dozen times “for some change.” Panhandlers also work the bus stops. And I have seen panhandlers insulting people who won’t give them the required “change.”

There are police officers in the downtown streets. However, they are more interested in spotting jay walkers (and handling out citations) than in ridding our streets of the panhandlers.

KEITH WINGATE

Pasadena