Mayor Makes Move to Shut Shelter Doors to Stem Panhandling

ATLANTA, Ga. - It's no secret Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed wants to get rid of one Atlanta homeless shelter.

Wednesday, our FOX 5 camera captured countless motorists giving dollars to a woman holding a cardboard sign. The beggar's sign indicated she's hungry. There is no way of telling whether the unidentified woman makes use of a large downtown shelter located on Peachtree. She would not take a reporter's questions. Yet, the mayor has set his sights on the Peachtree Pine facility formally starting his attempt to shut the place down. He wants to use the eminent domain clause to close the shelter. In its place, Reed wants to construct a public safety facility.

The individuals who gave cash to the unknown beggar gave various reasons for making the gesture -- everything from their faith to the fact that we are entering the holiday season.

The neighbors to the large downtown shelter are hoping the mayor will be successful in moving the homeless concentration off their block. They believe it breeds panhandling. A stylist at a nearby barbershop says vagrants on occasion will sit at the front door begging, which she says scares away her customers.