By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Some Comfort on a Soggy Day It was the beginning of the regular monsoon time in Albuquerque on a recent Friday afternoon. Driving through a light rain in Albuquerque on a recent Friday afternoon, we spotted this tall, sad looking guy with a small sign, about to become very bedraggled, … Read More
Compassion or Judgment? What’s Your 2017 New Year’s Resolution?
by Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. They’re all over Albuquerque and cities nationwide, holding a variety of signs designed to get you to fork over some spare change. Panhandling verbiage ranges from a simple, “Hungry. God bless,” to “Too honest to steal and too ugly to prostitute.” What do you do? Sometimes it can seem like … Read More
Former City Chief Public Safety Officer Concerned Albuquerque’s There’s a Better Way Program Doesn’t Require Background Checks for Workers
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Former Deputy City Attorney and Chief Public Safety Officer Pete Dinelli said City’s lack of background checks for “A Better Way” Program are “are exposing people to unnecessary risk” and City couldn’t escape liability in the event of an incident According to its website, in September 2015, the City of … Read More
“Let’s Do Lunch. You Buy!”
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. The sign is very clear. Held by a plaintive looking middle-aged man it reads, “Let’s do lunch. U-buy.” Would you? I would for sure. I’m never without $5.00 fast food gift cards in my car, which I offer to those who ask. They’re always gratefully received. I also offer my Joy … Read More
Educate Yourself and Care for the Homeless and Homeless Mentally Ill-Don’t Cuss Them Out
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. An Albuquerque man who told a panhandler to go get an f’ing job got more than he expected. The victim who said he didn’t want to use his name for safety concerns, told KOB TV’s Kai Porter, “I turn this way and he’s coming at me and he struck me, … Read More
Praised for “Recalibrating” its Approach to Homelessness, Alb. Mulls Criminalizing Panhandling and Starting Additional Emergency Family Shelter
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. A proposal heading to the City Council aims to ban what it considers dangerous behavior by panhandlers across Albuquerque. Sponsored by City Councilor Don Harris and delayed twice, the bill is scheduled to be heard at the Finance and Government Operations Committee on March 14. If successful it would criminalize … Read More
To Give or Not to Give to Panhandlers; That is the Question
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. With Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry saying his office is trying to find a way to deal with panhandlers without having to arrest them, the issue is back in the news again. “We know that some of the panhandlers, quite frankly, aren’t being necessarily genuine in their requests,” local media reported … Read More
