Today, I was walking in the first block of South George Street when a woman stopped me and held out a cup with a few dollars in it, asking for change.
I'm not sure, but I think this is the first time I've ever been asked for change in the city. (Not counting the time a guy told me he just got out of jail and needed a ride or money for a cab. He got neither from me.)
Since I was a few steps from Continental Square, it seemed a strange place to find panhandling. I can think of other areas it might seem more likely. I used to see people asking for money all the time when I lived outside of D.C., but it seems unusual here.
Has anyone else experienced this? Is the economy causing people to resort to asking for change on the street? Or am I just missing something?
Seriously? Either you haven't lived in the city long or you don't walk downtown. When I worked in the city, I was asked daily.
Hmmm. I've lived downtown about 2 1/2 years, and I do walk down there a lot. Maybe I just haven't been in the right place at the right time.
Last fall I had at least half a dozen Obama supporters asking for (nearly demanding) change.