Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT NING IN MIDTOWN.KETV NEWSWATCH 7'S ALEXANDRASTONE IS LIVE WITH TONIGHT'S BIGSTORALEXANDRA: ROB, JULIE, THISCORNER AT SADDLE CREEK ANDCUMING IS A POPULAR SPOT FORPANHANDLERS BUT ONE RETIRED, OMAHA MAN HAS A DIFFERENT TYPEOF SIGN GETTING A LOT OFATTENTION.STANDING ACROSS THE STREET FROMWITH DUELING SIGNS, CHARLESONE ANOTHER LOGAN IF YOU WANTMONEY, GO GET A JOB AND WORK FORIT.>> HE HAS A SIGN THAT SAYS, GETA JOB, BUT HE DOESN'T KNOWPEOPLE'S STRUGGLES.ALEXANDRA: YOU CAN FIND CHARLESLOGAN WHEREEVER THERE AREPANHANDLERS.HIS ACTION SPURRED ATFER SEEINGHIS OWN SON ASKING FOR MONEY ONTHE STREET.>> THAT IS WHAT REALLY HURT MEBECAUSE I KNOW THAT HE DIDN'THAVE TO DO THAT.A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT HERE DON'THAVE TO DO IT.ALEXANDRA: PANHANDLER CHARLESSMITH SAYS IT'S NOT SO SIMPLE.SMITH IS A SINGLE FATHER HE SAYSHE'S FACING EVICTION FROM HISAPARTMENT, TRYING TO PAY RENT,BEFORE HIS DISABILITY CHECKARRIVES.>> WE ALL GO THROUGH OURPERSONAL STRUGGLES WHETHER IT BE, FINANCIAL, PHYSICAL, MENTAL,EMOTIONAL.HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT.ALEXANDRA: AARON HANSENSTRUGGLES WITH DRUG ADDICTIONAND SAYS HE JUST GOT OUT OF JAIL.>> I'M A COLLEGE GRADUATE.I WAS RAISED BY VERY RESPECTABLEPARENTS.I'M A DECENT PERSON.IT'S JUST A TEMPORARY THINGUNTIL I GET BACK ON MY FEET.ALEXANDRA: NO MATTER YOUROPINION LOGAN'S SIGN IS DRAWING, NOTICE.BOTH GOOD -->> ONE OF THE BEST SIGNS THERETHAT'S IS OUT THERE.I WORK RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.ALEXANDRA: AND BAD.ACCORDING TO POLICE REPORTS, INTHE MONTH OF AUGUST A PANHANLDERTHROUGH A DRINK AT HIM.ANOTHER THREATENED HIM WITH AKNIFE, AND TUESDAY SOMEONESPRAYED HIM WITH MACE.EVEN SO, LOGAN SAYS HE'S NOTGOING ANYWHERE.>> THAT'S WHAT AMERICA IS BUILTOFF OF PEOPLE THAT WORK., NOT PEOPLE THAT BEG.ALEXANDRA: THESE PANHANDLERSDON'T PLAN ON MOVING EITHER,

Advertisement Retired Omaha man pushes back against panhandlers Charles Logan is urging panhandlers to get a job Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Dueling signs dot the intersection of Saddle Creek Road and Cuming Street. The busy crossing is a popular place for panhandlers, but there's a new face on one of the corners. Charles Logan has taken to holding a poster board with the words "Get a job. Get a job." "If you want money, go get a job and work for it," Logan said, as cars raced by Tuesday afternoon." Logan, who said he is retired from the military, explained he carries the sign in his car. When he see panhandlers around town, he often stops to stand on the corner with them.His motivation: seeing his own son panhandling. "That's really what hurt me. Because I know that he didn't have to do that. And a lot of people out here don't have to do it," Logan said. Though some of the panhandlers argued it's not so simple."He has a sign that says, 'get a job', but he doesn't know people's struggles," Charles Smith, one of the panhandlers said. Smith said he is a single father, trying to pay rent and facing eviction from his apartment as he waits on a disability check. "We all go through our personal struggles. Whether it be financial, physical, mental, emotional, and he doesn't understand that," Smith said. Another panhandler at the intersection, Aaron Hansen, spoke of his own struggles with drug addiction. Hansen recently got out of jail and is homeless. "I'm a college graduate. I was raised by very, very respectable parents. I'm a decent person, you know?" Hansen said, "It's just a temporary thing, till I get back on my feet." Logan said he believes there are services that can help these panhandlers with housing and food. However, when asked why he would not go to a local homeless shelter for a meal, Hansen said there are "politics" at shelters. He said he has utilized services that help the homeless in the past, but Tuesday, he decided to panhandle for a meal. No matter your opinion, Logan's sign is drawing notice. Some support it, honking and exclaiming praise from their vehicles. Though others, have acted out. According to police reports, in the month of August, a panhandler threw a drink at Logan. Another allegedly threatened him with a knife. On Tuesday, police responded to Saddle Creek and Cuming after Logan reported a panhandler sprayed him with mace. Charles Smith saw that altercation. While he doesn't agree with Logan's sign, Smith said he doesn't condone violence. "Everyone has the right to their own opinion," Smith said, "If he wants to say 'get a job', that's his opinion."As for Logan, he's not going anywhere. In response to panhandlers who call their efforts a job, Logan said: "Well, this is my job. To tell them to get a job....This is what I believe. I believe that America needs to get back to working."The panhandlers had no intention of giving up either. Both sides heading back to their corners, for a day's work.