Story Outline

Panhandler Controversy Takes to the Street-Signs From a news story by San Francisco KPIX CBS 5 News Reporter Hank Plante November 2003

I. San Francisco has many homeless people.

A. The homeless people live on the streets.
B. Many of the homeless are panhandlers.
C. Panhandlers beg on the streets.
D. Often they pretend to be hungry artists.

II. The San Francisco Hotel Council has posted signs.

A. The signs say the hungry artists are really con artists.
B. Also, panhandlers use the donated money for crack.
C. John Hutar is the president of the council.
D. The signs are to help the public become aware of the problem.

III. John Hutar thinks the signs are important and not cruel.

A. Hutar wants people to think before giving to panhandlers.
B. The hotel council wants people to give to groups that help the poor.
C. Over one hundred-fifty homeless died in the streets last year.
D. John Hutar says that those deaths, and not the signs, are cruel.

IV. State Senator John Burton has posted signs in the city.

A. Burton says there is another side to the panhandler issue.
B. He says that Jesus gave to the poor in Galilee.
C. Also, he claims that St. Francis of Assisi was a beggar.
D. Burton has given money so women could buy food for their children.
E. Vietnam vets have bought blankets with money he gave them.

V. Senator Burton represents San Francisco in the state house.

A. He pays for all of his signs in support of the homeless.
B. The money comes from his campaign funds.
C. If St. Francis begged in San Francisco today, he might be arrested.
D. This is an election year and the homeless are a hot issue.