Memo to Mayor Leppert: Give credit when and where it's due

One of the many issues former Dallas City Councilman Garry Griffith was passionate about was panhandling, especially around the Lakewood Shopping Center. The center was a mecca for beggars. I remember one sunny afternoon after a lunch at Cantina Laredo a panhandler approached a woman about to enter the restaurant and asked her for some money. She reached into her purse and gave him a 20-dollar bill. I was about to rush home, put on some scrubby clothes, return and work the neighborhood myself.

But the Lakewood merchants were alarmed, especially when the panhandlers became more aggressive. Led by Mr. Griffith, as part of his efforts to reduce crime throughout his District 9, and Carol Hensley, who had formed the Lakewood Business Association in part to help fight the panhandling, they began a campaign to drive the panhandlers out of Lakewood. Their first effort was basically a "Just say no" program. The theory was (and is) simple: If the panhandlers realize the Lakewood money fountain has dried up, they will move elsewhere. The problem is that it didn't work so well because (1) the Panhandlers became even more threatening and (2) there are a lot of people in Dallas with good hearts who just want to help those less fortunate than they.

So Ms. Hensley organized a business Volunteers in Patrol program with the help of the Dallas Police Department and Mr. Griffith came up with something called "the Apple campaign." The way it worked was something like this. Those Lakewood merchants who were part of the campaign had large apple posters in their store windows and plates of fresh fruit inside their stores. The stores also provided lists of charities in Dallas that helped the homeless and other unfortunates. If a shopper was accosted by a panhandler, he or she would give the beggar some fruit and also could make a donation to the charity. Mr. Griffith even convinced a local advertising company to donate its efforts to create a logo and to help spread the word.

This morning, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, along with John Crawford, president and CEO of DowntownDallas, and city council members Angela Hunt and Pauline Medrano announced the launching of something they are calling "Lend a Hand," which is nothing more than a blatant ripoff of Mr. Griffith's Apple campaign. The program is worthwhile, I guess, but instead of patting themselves on their collective backs they should be giving Mr. Griffith some acknowledgement, especially since he recently briefed Mr. Crawford on the Lakewood effort.