Gurnee Mayor Asks People Not To Give To Panhandlers
(CBS) -- The mayor of north suburban Gurnee has asked residents to pull the welcome mat from under panhandlers in the village before things get out of hand.
WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports the way Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik sees it, panhandlers have found too many willing donors among the many people who visit the village for shopping and amusement parks. She fears their numbers will only swell as crowds grow this summer.
Kovarik posted a message on her Facebook page, urging people not to give panhandlers money.
She told the Daily Herald a lot of panhandlers are scam artists.
On her Facebook page, she wrote: "I know it tugs at your heartstrings, but if the village is a profitable location, word will spread and more and more will come."
She recommended those who want to give to the less fortunate should donate to the Lake County PADS homeless shelter or to the Salvation Army.