On April 24, San Luis Obispo officials unveiled “Meter Donation Stations” as part of a “Directed Giving Campaign.” In an effort to curb panhandling, city officials installed seven stations throughout the downtown core, each of which allows pedestrians to make donations with coins or credit cards. All of the collected funds will be funneled to the United Way of San Luis Obispo County to provide services rather than continue “the existing culture which enables destructive behaviors and damages the fabric of our community,” according to a press release.
This article appears in May 1-8, 2014.