T wenty-five years ago, as I walked on a somewhat deserted street in Downtown Indianapolis on the way to my first day of work at The Star, a man approached me. He asked if I had any spare change.

In the years since, the folks we call panhandlers have become just another part of the scene in a much-more-crowded Downtown. I’ve seen some of the same faces for years, often with the same stories to tell, and I’ve tried to help when I thought it was a good idea.

As various local laws have been passed to try to make panhandlers a little less visible, they’ve adapted. Instead of approaching people on the street, they’ll sit on a corner, shaking a cup of change. Sometimes, they’ll state their case with a handwritten sign.

They’ve moved beyond Downtown, working some of the area’s busiest intersections, such as 38th Street and Michigan Road, or 86th and Keystone Avenue.

A few weeks ago, the Indianapolis City-County Council passed an ordinance designed to place new limits on panhandling, particularly at intersections like these. Although I still see some of the same folks working the same corners Downtown, I don’t see much going on in the outlying areas.

That leaves me wondering where we’ll see them next.

How do you feel about the attempts by local government to control panhandling? Is it becoming an issue in your community?

I’d like to discuss this in my next community chat, beginning at 1 p.m. Friday at IndyStar.com/communitychat

If you can’t join us then, feel free to send me an e-mail or leave a phone message, using the contact information below. I look forward to hearing from you.