Project: LOOP

Photo by NWalker

“Bum” is a job for all people. No matter what ganders or age. Sometimes a bum can make more than a part time job worker.

Chicago bums have their own block, it’s like they have their own territory. If they follow people they will try not to walk out of their own block.

Once Shakespeare got beat up bad, some people said because he went down too south.
Chicago bums are rich. We all know bums sit on the streets with a cup next to them. But not many times we see a bum counting money. Money, I mean five and ten dollar bills
Sometimes becoming a bum is not because they are lazy. They make free money and don’t try to hurt people. They are a group of people who work and have lots freedom. They don’t have to do they same thing every. They don’t have to race with clock. They can take days off and never got fire from their job. The only bet they have to put on the table is their health, their live.South Loop Shakespeare!!
Why Shakespeare?

He is a short, homeless old man around South Loop. When he talks to people he uses Shakespeare language.
I was walking down the street with my girlfriend after dinner. Shakespeare saw us stopped in front of us.

“Shakespeare” kneels down, open one arm and put other arm against his heart.
He said: “my lord, @! #@#$%@##!.” (Can’t remember)

Shakespeare used to never follow people before but he follows people now.
First time was when I walked to class:
Shakespeare followed a kid (who looked like freshmen), Shakespeare tried to talk to him in to give him some money, that kid ended up giving him some money.
Other time was few weeks ago, Shakespeare tried to follow a business man. Shakespeare follow him two blocks didn’t got any money and gave up.

Look for Shakespeare:

He usually walks around Wabash Street between E Roosevelt Rd and E9th Street. Sometimes he goes up around S Michigan Ave. and E Jackson Blvd.

Be a good bum, don’t lie

Most of bums we see on street are holding cup ask for money. sometimes they would talk to people ask how they doing. There is a bum doesn’t do that at all. she also have her area but she lie to people for money.
She walks around 1104 Wabash Street. There is a dark parking place across 1104 Wabash building, I saw her came out of that parking area many times. She has short hair, always wears a dirty dark blue and white jacket.

Once I walked by the parking lot and she followed me across street and talked to me.
She said she have two kids at home alone and she forget her key in the car also her car have flat tire so she need sixty dollars to fix all those and try to get home as quick as she can.
Because I saw her around the area ask people for money many times so I know she is a bum
I don’t like people to make up lies. Also, she is the only bum that asks me for that much money.
So I told her it is not safe for her kids to stay home by themself and I really want to help her.
Then I pull out my phone and told her. I can help her call police. For sure police will help her with it.
After she heard that she just ran back around the parking area
also she went across the street, another bum was looked at her angry.

Blind guy on train
There is a blind homeless guy always take red line train asks people for money and food. He usually gets on the train around Harrison or Jackson
He knew where people sit so when he asked for money, he would stop right next to a group of people and waited for one or two minutes. When there are no people at one end of the car, he won’t walk there, he will just turn back.
When he tried to go across two carts, he knew where to open the door. Which on CAT train the door between each carts the handle has a cover. When people want to open it they have to pull it up first then open it.
I saw him many times on the train. He always got off the train at Chicago stop.
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when train is moving most of people need to hold on something
he doesn’t need to
when people go between two carts, undercover police can give out 50 dollars fine
he not scare of that
he doesn’t touch people when he ask for money, some bums do
he is working hard for his job as a bum
next time see him just give him a dollar for his hard work….