Downtown bums

I've been reading on a few sites how people downtown are getting hassled by bums, homeless, etc.(use your own PC term).

My last trip was 2 years ago & apart from one offer of drugs, I didn't have any problems walking from the FSE to the El Cortez.

Has it gotten bad or am I reading too much into this?

I don't know about downtown, but you now have many of them on the pedestrian bridges on the strip. Beware of any of them selling bottled water. They usually sell it for a dollar and always insist on removing the cap before giving it to you (in other words it means the cap wasn't sealed).

I get hassled by homeless types every time I walk in a city, any city. Well, hassled isn't the right word. The homeless do their pan handling thing and I walk past them. Often, I'll find a way to cross the street so I can observe them from a small distance. Sometimes they give me some lip for ignoring them.

I always think people read too much into this. Some people equate a homeless type asking for a quarter to almost getting mugged. They also equate an offer to buy drugs to almost getting shot.

I buy water from those guys all the time. I've never had them remove the cap for me. The caps have all been good. They're not homeless, they're entrepreneurs or street hustlers.

DonDiego prefers vagrant, pauper, or vagabond, . . . depending upon their comportment.

I never give money to a bum....but I will give them a sandwich...and watch them eat it

In Vegas, I never give money to a bum....but I will put $5 in a slot...and make them play it off hehe

My biggest gripe is the way RTD moved the bus station. It was two blocks behind Binion's. Now it's like six blocks south of the Nugget, and the walk takes you right past the jail.

The new system is fine if you board the express bus right outside Binion's. But if you need one of the other buses and you need to catch the next one, it really sucks.

Possibly the homeless serve to keep you INSIDE the casinos?

Dude, water is free inside the casinos. Why go outside to pay $1?

It doesn't seem to be a problem during the day, but late at night they seem to be a problem. Seems like every year I go there are less cops around downtown too. I would have to say it seems like every year there is more of them around downtown and less cops to run them off. The homeless people on the strip never say anything to me. They just have their sign and cup if you want to give them money. Some of them are even playing music. I had one homeless guy this year get mad when I would not give him money and started hassling me about it as he walked away.

15,000 homeless and 130,000 empty homes. Somehow that doesn't seem logical.

I tend to dress like a bum so they leave me alone. Buying your wardrobe at Walmart has more advantages than just cheap cost !