More beggars with dogs
2010
It’s always nice to be in San Francisco. It has a certain charm that’s very attractive.
I’ve seen the city live through a few recessions. In the late 1980s, a few restaurants closed. I’d frequented this Japanese restaurant along, Geary Street, stone’s throw from Union Square. A set lunch/dinner comprising teriyaki chicken/beef/fish with tempura was only USD6.50 to USD8. It closed.
During the dotcom bust in 1999/2000, there were more beggars in the street. Last year, the beggars came back, but with a new twist. There’s so many of them, so how to differentiate themselves? The beggars are quite innovative.
They came with their dogs. I don’t know if the dogs are really theirs but they sit along the curb in Union Square asking for a loose change or a dollar to buy food for their dogs. I’ve seen a beige Labrador wearing shades and carrying a toy in his mouth. He could do this for hours. The dog is made out to be the beggar, because the owner/real beggar is standing to one side, barking instructions to the dog to do his bidding, like walk in small circles, sit, stay etc. I gave a couple of dollars so did many other people. This time I saw more beggar-dog combination. There’s a guy on a wheelchair with a Rottweiler pup, probably about 6-8 months old. The pup pooped on the curb, his owner stopped and carried on when the business was done! There’re at least 4-5 of these combo pairs in a 10-minute walking radius of Union Square.
I also saw a young girl playing her violin and a soprano singing opera arias and hits from musicals. They looked too well-dressed to be beggars, but they were collecting money.
Wonder what I’ll see next.
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