A New Generation of Panhandlers at La Linea

spic-ole

I couldn't help but notice that there seems to be a change going on at "La Linea."

It seems as though there seems to be a lot of really young entreprenuers at the line lately. I've also noticed that some of these new businessmen are pretty rutheless when it comes to coercing you to wash your windows.

I had the chance to watch a couple of kids harassing some people such as pouring water on people's car when they refused service, walking around a car and writing on cars that had dirt on them, and on one occasion, I even saw two kids reach into some guy's open window and take a bag of potato chips and start eating them in front of the guy. They seemed to follow the guy while eating the chips in order to mock him.

I couldn't believe it. The only thought I had is, where are the cops?

spic-ole · Posted: 15 Jul 2006 02:33 PM Post subject:

One of these kids came up to my car and asked if he could wash my windows. After seeing the way these kids were treating people, I refused. The guy kept insisting and started saying, "come on, whatever you got. come on. just give me a dollar if that's all you have."

I had to stop when he said that. A dollar? For 30 seconds work? These kids could make anywhere from 30 to 60 dollars an hour for washing windows (and doing a bad job at it too). You've got to be kidding me? "Just a dollar?" This means this kid probably wanted at least two bucks. I could get my entire car washed and vacuumed for 5 bucks.

Whatever happened to the days of "dos pesos"?

superplayer · Posted: 15 Jul 2006 03:16 PM Post subject:

During the last couple of years, migration from the south of Mexico to the border region has drastically boomed. These migrants have made Downtown Mexicali their haven. Mexicali natives don't even go shopping there anymore. The migrants are usually homeless and move around the streets in groups looking for abandoned places to temprarily settle. Judging under these circumstances, the number of beggars and windshield washers in la linea is much larger, their attitude more defiant, and the impact of their prescence simply more noticeable. I always say this, I never give them anything, though I wouldn't mind giving a few coins to the ones that carry a near-dead child and show a prescription from the Cruz Roja that the child is sick and needs medication.

Hobbit · Posted: 15 Jul 2006 04:15 PM Post subject:

My cousin actually got in a fight with one of these jerks. I'm not saying all of them are, but that one was. Plus, what is a 25 year old doing there? I have never been in his shoes, and don't plan to be, but I'm sure there is a better alternative to washing windows and demanding money.

sakurob

A couple weeks ago my brother and I were coming across the "linea" and one of the guys came up to our windows to panhandle some money.....my brother came up with the wild idea if this guy wants a dollar or two I guess he'll have to earn it.........so my brother tells him he'd give him 1.00 dollar for 50 pushups and 10 burpees. The kid did'em and as we were moving up in the line the guy would do his sets next to our car......It was pretty entertaining and we did'nt feel like we just gave money away for nothing......bottom line the panhandler didn't get something for nothing......we shoulda' thrown in some jumping jacks while we were at it.... Thumbs Up

verbal · Posted: 19 Jul 2006 03:56 PM Post subject:

For someone who crossed the border on a daily basis I have not yet to come across a bad situation. I have heard and read stories about people at the line, but I guess I have been fortunate enough not to have been in the middle of bad altercations.

I have seen kids throw pennies back at cars, so the rule of the thumb is don't give pennies. I have a friend who at knife-point was forced to give up his wallet and watch. Now he crosses the line with the windows up and locks down. Still, I cross with my windows down.

For the most part, I give most of my change at the border. Whether it be old ladies, young children, people cleaning my windshield, or someone dusting off my car.

5 pesos is enough and I sometimes hooked them up with a dollar bill or something. And when I ran out of change I just let them know that people in the back cleaned me out.

Either you help these people or you don't, but degrading someone like the Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase is another. If you want to be entertained go watch Gladiator.

sakurob · Posted: 20 Jul 2006 08:11 AM Post subject:

Since we're in Mex.......I think I'd rather have them jump off "the top hood" like Jimmy "superfly" Snukka.........I never really liked Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase.....or at least Lou Albano............ Payasito

verbal · Posted: 20 Jul 2006 11:45 AM Post subject:

I was more of Ricky the Dragon Steamboat kinda fan...

elchrist · Posted: 20 Jul 2006 12:24 PM Post subject:

I came back from Mex last night around 10 PM and I didn't see any of these mendigos being pricks and I did about 45 minutes of line. They all did the "Clean your window?" gesture, but no one was pushy or demanding ridiculous amounts of cash.

I was asked by some old man at Sara's for 10 pesos so he could complete enough for a gallon of milk for his family. I only had about 8.50 on me, so he was still going to have to work the rest of the crowd to get himself enough for a caguama that night.

I do lock my doors and raise my windows, since I'm not about to take the slim chance of being mugged. I only lower my window for the Es Cafe runners...

elchrist · Posted: 07 Aug 2006 02:21 PM Post subject:

Over the weekend I was making line at around 4 AM and I spotted a guy in a wife beater shirt passed out on the left hand lane next to the concrete dividers. As I drove by, I saw the man in more detail as he had tons of blood on in his face and he basically looked dead. He looked straight out of Alarma!

There were two cops (females) checking him out, but no one was touching him. As I drove away, I noticed a sillouette of the guy getting up and dragging himself onto the park.

A few minutes later, I saw some cholo-type guy arguing with his girlfriend. Later on as I made the obligatory late night stop at Jack in the Box on Imperial Ave., I saw this same guy who was arguing as his shirt was ripped and he had a cut on his forehead.

I don't know if these two guys were linked in any way, but I wonder if the "dead" guy was a street peddler.