Squeegeeing has been an issue in Baltimore for decades, now city leaders are working to change the way some of those workers earn a living.
Tuesday, city leaders held a meeting with some of those squeegee workers and are now developing a plan to address the issue.
Dating back decades squeegeeing is something that’s been a means of income and part of the culture for many people throughout Baltimore.
“I think there’s a safety issue with it as far as like them getting hurt, them being able to get hit by cars and stuff like that,” Juan said.
Although many people like Juan expressed concerns for squeegee workers doing this type of work, they understand what’s driving it.
“It doesn’t bother me at all personally. I would rather see them doing that opposed to being gang affiliated or running around doing something mischievous,” Juan said.
Other neighbors in the community who didn’t want to be identified expressed completely opposite opinions.
“Squeegee persons really need to come off the corners because it’s a form of harassment, you know every person don’t need their car windows washed everyday,” said one person.
Tuesday, city leaders from the mayor’s office along with squeegee workers and advocates held a public meeting to discuss some of the issues involving this type of panhandling.
“It's been a lot of conversations, hard conversations about this perception of people who squeegee. A lot of our young people are, quote unquote, breadwinners for their families for helping their families get by and pay rent helping them keep the lights on,” Lewis said.
Monica Lewis is the Senior Director of communications for the mayor’s office, she attended the meeting.
However, although many of the squeegee workers are serving as the breadwinners for their families some of them are risking their chance at an education to do it.
“They are children, they shouldn't be supporting the family the family needs to support them,” said Lewis.
City leaders said although this was the first of many planned public conversations about this topic, ideally the mayor wants to promote a community of people who know they are supported so they no longer have to squeegee.
“We're looking at this innovative way to address a problem that's been around for quite too long. We cannot arrest people for panhandling all we can do is figure out a way to support this people and give them the resources and the support they need, where they don't have to resort to be on the streets to ask for money,” Lewis said.
That’s what many people want to see.
“I think truthfully there should be a program available for them to be able to earn money in a safer way,” said one person.
City leaders did provide a website where people can go and express their opinions, join the conversation and be updated concerning this issue, for more information, click here.
