... if they sign a contract to not come back. That’s the Swiss attitude that doesn’t make you popular with neighbors.

https://www.newsweek.com/city-offers...-1588085?amp=1

Subtle!

wow

I noticed this and thought it was a joke... talk about making a problem go away

fixed that for ya..

Can someone find a Swiss article substantiating this? I can't find anything on this anywhere

https://www.20min.ch/fr/story/un-che...s-688160601385

Homeless people is not the same thing as beggars.

Begging in the street is not allowed in several Swiss Cantons / Cities.

So, which one is it? Homeless or beggars?

I don't think that will work, but fingers crossed.

@Sinking,
The ban should be extended to all cantons.



You do realise these IDs are fake, I hope. Which makes me wonder how on earth they can board here..if nothing else..Typical cost appears to be 214 chf last time I checked btw. This article made me very curious.

A few years ago, the SP in Basel decided to adopt a different approach to begging - effectively, total tolerance.

This has ended up with Basel being a Mecca to beggars - including the organised gangs. There's a woman who has her spot by the Denner near Wettsteinplatz. Like many of the others, she's shrouded in blankets to keep out the cold, a sign saying (in English) "Please help, 2 kids to feed". I used to walk by about the same time each Saturday morning. She had a mobile phone, a packed lunch (usually hidden away, as it doesn't go with the look), and sometimes her gang members would visit her for a chat.

A few weeks ago, I saw a child of about 12 begging on Mittlerebrücke - exactly the same MO as the rest of this obvious gang.

Organised begging isn't allowed, but the police have been told not to challenge any beggar.

These people will not be accepting the offer. They're making too much money out of gullible tourists.

There is a Swiss man on IV. He has a disability which makes walking difficult. He supplements his income by begging, and while out, tends to exaggerate his disability. How do I know this? He was interviewed by TeleBasel and was quite open about it. Again his target is tourists. As a Swiss man, he won't be taking the offer.

However, I do know a few homeless people in Basel who would take the offer. They want to move on, but lack the wherewithall to do it. No one is forced to take the offer, and as it stands Basel is (in my view over) tolerant of begging.

__________________
Down with racism. Long live miscegenation!

I suspect that quite a few people who came to Basel from abroad to make some cash off tourists may have gotten caught up in the pandemics and couldn't get back home, maybe..Because of lack of funds, no tourists, borders were closed at some point, etc. Would that be a reason why the city proposed this help? How will they go about the PCR tests prior flying?

No, it really is a major problem in Basel. These are Romas who are part of a criminal human trafficking operation. I can tell you they most definitely will not be taking the offer & will instead wait for the bus from their boss to pick them up while he drops off fresh beggars.

Here's more on the subject:

https://www.srf.ch/play/tv/rundschau...5-ddddeaa6eb43

One of them grabbed my breasts at Le Train Bleu outside SBB. He came up & harassed people at their tables & then he pretended to trip and fall over his crutches right onto my chest. He was suddenly no longer crippled when the table of gentleman next to me rushed to my aid... he picked up his crutches and ran like the wind. Basel was incredibly stupid to ever allow this to happen in the first place, it is a real mess.

Fantastic idea!

They should do it country wide!

Tom

This is nothing new.

Did anyone read Treverus' link until the end?

That's always been the case.

Crapping in the parks.

They've all got smartphones. How else do you think they keep themseleves amused.

Ugh, they are coming into Bern now. I’ve seen a few with the roses, but nothing like Basel. I hope it doesn’t get that bad ... probably one of the only times I will be on the side of SVP.

https://www.20min.ch/video/organisie...r-438945202697

I can totally see the naive ultra liberal Bernese catering to these guys ... blerg.

1. I also find it a bit weird that there is so little in the press on this. Probably because it
a) was just a "Vorstoss"... an idea to be discussed, not in practice yet
b) an offer, not any sort of forced deportation.

I honestly think this doesnt address the professional beggars. Because they are professionals. If they choose Basel then thats because they make money there. A cheap ticket and 20 EUR wont change that. The offer might work for the people who got stranded in Basel due to lock downs in FR and DE who would actually like to return home but cant. Lots of homeless like to spend the summers in the southern EU and the winters in places like Switzerland where the shelters are probably better than in Greece or Italy. I guess they would be tempted to fly out and then choose say Germany for their next winter.

I think the best thing would be for awareness raised among tourists to not give any money to beggars. Signs in main areas etc. Also, a small police patrol that goes at random intervals down the main areas checking permits etc.

Ah, yes, thank you, that makes sense. I've also not been able to find it, as a concrete offer, anywhere.