Is 'Aggressive Panhandling' a Problem in Royal Oak?

Earlier this week, we reached out on the Royal Oak Patch Facebook page to find out what issues in town need to be addressed. We received a number of comments and messages on the issue of panhandling.

Royal Oak Patch user Kim D. wrote the following message on the issue:

My concern is the new onset of aggressive panhandling in the 13 & Woodward area. I have lived in this city for most of my 44 years & until now it has never been as bad. I was stopping into Kroger today when a woman came up to me near my car asking me to buy her pork chops & bread because her food stamps have run out followed by a young man that has been at the corner with a homeless sign for a few weeks trying to get my attention. Fun fact, he is a friend of my neighbors grand daughter & is actually a heroin junkie & not homeless. Why are these same people not a mile up the road in Birmingham? What can we do to to get this back under control?

Royal Oak Patch Facebook user Ann Greenough Kozlowski addressed the topic as well, writing: "Panhandlers in the median on Woodward. Just move to the SIDE of the road." Six users liked Kozlowski's comment.

Do you feel that panhandling is a significant issue in Royal Oak? Let us know in the comments below.