Up until about six years ago, panhandling was rampant, and I can remember as a kid (back in the Sony Walkman days) having it all around whenever I took the Subway. Within about ten minutes of getting on the 2 Train, I expected to have the opportunity to purchase a fresh pair of batteries and a pack of Wrigley’s gum from panhandlers. Panhandling is still noticeable here and there, but in my opinion it’s rare to see people selling products on the subway like in the old days.
These days, I have a pretty strict rule about not supporting panhandlers in the New York City Subway system. Yesterday I read an article on AOL about a guy nicknamed ‘Track’ who makes fifty-five thousand dollars a year selling candy and snacks; it reaffirmed the fact that I am right to not support these panhandlers.
Watch the video below before you continue reading:
Sugar rush hour from Bianca Consunji on Vimeo.
I’m writing this article to draw attention to the fact that these folks are causing trouble, and it’s more than you may think. First, every time you support panhandlers, you as a rider will pay for it in the long run. A small but important portion of the revenue that the MTA collects comes from retailers in the system. Think about it, why do you think the MTA is happy to have Apple set up shop at Grand Central Terminal? Apple, for one, will bring consumers and tourists into the terminal to spend money. When people are lining up for the iPhone 5 or waiting for their Apple Care appointment, where do you think they are going to eat and wait around? Customers are going to eat in restaurants such as Golden Crust on the lower level and buy magazines from Hudson News. Those purchases are revenue that the MTA is partially entitled to, which helps support and fund the system. When panhandlers such as ‘Track’ sell goods in the system, in a very small way, they bite into the revenue of the authorized retailers. He also adds additional costs to the system, as this cost is passed on to the consumer.
When I lived in the North Bronx, I used to take the 5 Train to its last stop, Eastchester – Dyre Avenue, every day. All the time on these long train rides, I saw people partaking in goods they were sold, which begs the question, where do you honestly think some of these candy and snack wrappers go? They end up on train floor, platforms, and on the tracks for the MTA to clean. Now, my trash argument might appear to be trivial and laughable, or is it when the MTA hauls 40 tons of trash from the subway every day? Think about that!
Think also about how the MTA keeps panhandlers like ‘Track’ out of the system. It’s a responsibility that falls on to the New York City Police department; those officers come at an additional cost to the MTA.
What bothers me most is the money. When I graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, I didn’t make anywhere near $55 thousand a year. How can I not get mad when this guy, who is illegally selling candy on the subway, is making that much tax-free per year – more than most of the people who buy products from him? There is a part of the short video where he thanks riders for putting a $300 pair of sneakers on his feet. Now don’t get me wrong, I am strong believer that a college degree isn’t the only way to be successful, but this story is simply fucked up. The author of this article failed to mention that what he is doing is illegal and shouldn’t be condoned, but I guess that’s why we started Fieend!
I wonder what the MTA, NYPD, New York State, and Uncle Sam think about this story. I really want to hear your opinion, because you just read mine.
