Boy on Plaza Street in the Early Morning

bkchickie · October 2010

Okay, so this has happened to me a few times, and I'm wondering if anyone else knows about this:

Twice a week I'm out of the house by 7am. Lately, there's a boy, probably about 10 to 12 (but I am terrible about estimating ages) who stands wearing a backpack under the sidewalk shed on Plaza Street, between Butler Place and Vanderbilt. The first two times he only said "Hello, hello! Excuse me!" Today, however, he tried to get my attention by blocking my way as I walked on (yes, ignoring him) and he followed me a little ways down Plaza. He was asking me about buying something (I couldn't understand what he was saying) but I didn't see that he had anything to sell.

it feels weird to be ignoring a kid of that age, but I don't know what he's up to, and it seems really strange. If he were any bigger I would fear for my safety (but maybe I should anyway, given what we've heard about groups of kids mugging and attacking people.) I don't notice an adult watching him or encouraging his behavior. He clearly isn't looking for help, and if he were, there are three doormen buildings he could duck into on this stretch. This has happened only since school started, so I wonder if this kid goes to the school at Vanderbilt and Sterling, and it never happens when I leave the house later (I wonder if school is in session by then). He also seems to never range into sight of any of the doormen, as if he knew they would shuffle him away.

I would like to think that he's simply a crafty kid who's figured out a way to get some extra snack money. But....

atomsk · October 2010

Ask him what he wants? It won't hurt. I mean, if it's just one kid (and not a pack of adolescents hanging around the corner, waiting and plotting), the worst that could come out of it is that he's annoying for a moment, you put him in his place and you don't have to deal with it again.

goodprospect · October 2010

A boy about this age - perhaps the same kid - came to my door last week wanting to sell candy to "raise money for my school's basketball team." Now, I kinda didn't believe him....when I asked a question or two, an older teen boy popped up just repeating the pitch....but I also know that my kids sometimes go out to raise money from neighbors and area merchants for their school's fundraising, so I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, and gave him $5.

I had the feeling I was being taken, and I don't want to encourage panhandling of any kind in our neighborhood, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.....

jml · October 2010

Yeah, I got took by that too. Still waiting for my candy. I've had kids come by my door a few times in the past. I've always wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, but no more.

bohuma · October 2010

If they are genuinely raising money for the school/basketball team/whatever they'll have some documentation. When I lived in Queens the local high school's ROTC or equivalent was raising money, those kids came around in their uniforms and were very respectful and gave a receipt - I was in two minds because of DADT, but decided that it's not the kids' fault that the government;s regulations are being hijacked by homophobes.

If they're selling candy, they should actually have the candy with them, or ask for payment when it's delivered.

sadarami · October 2010

kids used to go around on the subway selling candy for their "basketball team" then they changed the pitch to say something like "we're not raising money for no basketball team, we're keeping it real, we're just trying to make some money" .but seems like someone's behind them keeping most of the profits, especually since they all use the same exact script, right down to the way they all emphasize "no basketball team"

whynot_31 · October 2010

Sadarami wrote: kids used to go around on the subway selling candy for their "basketball team" then they changed the pitch to say something like "we're not raising money for no basketball team, we're keeping it real, we're just trying to make some money" .but seems like someone's behind them keeping most of the profits, especually since they all use the same exact script, right down to the way they all emphasize "no basketball team"

^^^ this.

there was an article at some point in the NYT that discussed how some guy bought cases of candy from Sams Club, then sold it at a profit to local kids, who in turn sold it at a profit to subway riders.

....just capitalism, when you think about it.

inpixels · October 2010

Re:Ask him what he wants? It won't hurt.
Exploiting children will.

Re:they'll have some documentation.
They fake that too.
Clipboard and Lamination etc.
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5213468&page=1

And the scam continues

doublediamond · October 2010

inpixels, great video. Those two should come to a Brooklynian happy hour! They're so enjoyable!

whynot_31 · October 2010

I would totally buy him a beer.

pittiecity · October 2010

"Really dude, stop selling the skittles."

armchair_warrior · October 2010

don't give them money it would just encourage the scamming of people. scamming candy money for now, later would be worse things.

idlewild · October 2010

I side with the wife. Funny video.

inpixels · October 2010

thanks all

How about this guy in Kensington? OMG

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/but_fake_vet_limb_flam_man_SRdm9m4V2RRTY0jA7ziJxO

whynot_31 · October 2010

The United Homeless Organization was my favorite large scale scam.

http://gothamist.com/2009/10/28/video_united_homeless_organization.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Homeless_Organization

http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local_news/nyc/united-homeless-organization-shut-down-20100624-kc

.....the fake LeGrand family nuns might be a close second.

Of course, both are still around.

inpixels · October 2010

RE: United Homeless Organization
Have you eve noticed the UHO guys usually have unusual and/or very commanding voices? Pretty good at grabbing your attention.

inpixels · October 2010

shut down? I thought I saw UHO since June.
But since it was a scam what's to stop anyone from swiping a a water cooler jug and putting "UHO" on it?

whynot_31 · October 2010

they went to a little training before they get IDs.

For a long time, it was effectively a license to beg in NYC. The cops ignored them and the public imagined them as legit.

....but the state won by arguing that non-profits administer the money collected on programs, rather than simply allow those collecting the money to keep it.

P.S. RE: guy with the booming voice, we are probably remembering the same guy on the 4/5. He would work the train as it went under the river, when he knew he had us as a captive audience.

whynot_31 · October 2010

inpixels wrote: shut down? I thought I saw UHO since June.

I've seen them still around too, but it is much less prevalent.

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/11/25/2009-11-25_lowest_scam_in_town_united_homeless_organization_fakes_helping_the_poorest.html

But since it was a scam what's to stop anyone from swiping a a water cooler jug and putting "UHO" on it?

....back in the day, such behavior would have gotten you a beat down. The UHO hired other homeless guys to go around and make sure that only "authorized" people were in the good spots with 5 gal jugs.

I'm not sure how the train people were supervised.

The "Is there anyone else hungry on this train?" sandwich and fruit people are still around, but the 5 gallon water bottle people now get moved along by the cops from their favorite spots.

http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/mta-looks-to-usher-out-homeless-from-ends-of-subway-lines-1.1773684?showAll=true

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dhs/downloads/pdf/success_strategies.pdf

Boy on Plaza Street in the Early Morning

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