On the Far East Side, Ald. Samba Baldeh, 17th District, said he, too, has received a lot of complaints from constituents recently about panhandling, particularly around East Towne Mall.

“If they are looking for a place to sleep or food to eat or clothes to wear, I don’t think the panhandling will be the solution for that,” Baldeh said. “I think service providers is where they should go, but not to stand all over the city and asking for money.”

Soglin questioned whether some panhandlers actually need the money or are profiting from the practice, adding that some city officials believe a “significant number” aren’t homeless.

Uncertainties and divisions

“People are going to have to make a decision in this city.” Soglin said. “Are they going to buy politically correct lies about the notion that these panhandlers are homeless or are they going to be interested in protecting lives?”

Kopp Mueller expressed skepticism that people are making money off panhandling and said it is usually done to support day-to-day needs of the homeless.

“It just doesn’t seem like a very profitable way to go about life,” she said.