Panhandling is stupid and annoying, but the most appropriate way to curb it is to educate people not to patronize it.

It's good to buy Street Roots and donate to homeless shelters, but don't give money to strangers. Instead, look panhandlers in the eye and say, "hello" and keep walking. If enough Portlanders did this, the problem would subside.

Homeless Task Force sounds like a Ben Stiller movie.