OK to Say No

OK to Say No

Alex, a lean, curly haired, and tattooed 38-year-old, has a bead of sweat dripping off his sunburned nose as he stands in front of a traffic sign that says, “It’s OK to say no to panhandlers.” In his hand, he waves his own sign, this one soliciting donations from motorists stopping at the light at Bryant Irvin Road and the eastbound 820 service road. Asked why he’s panhandling in front of a sign that discourages donations, Alex, who declined to …