Homeless man shoeless again despite officer's gift
NEW YORK (AP) - The New York City homeless man - whose gift of boots from an NYPD police officer became an online sensation - is back on the streets with no shoes.
The New York Times found him Sunday night wandering barefoot in Manhattan. The paper identified him as Jeffrey Hillman, formerly of South Plainfield, N.J.
Asked about the $100 all-weather boots Officer Larry DePrimo gave him on Nov. 14, Hillman says he's hidden them because "they are worth a lot of money."
He says he's grateful for the gift, but he wants "a piece of the pie" because the photo was posted online "without permission."
An Arizona tourist snapped the photo of the officer presenting new boots to Hillman. It went viral after it was posted on the NYPD's Facebook page.
The New York Times found him Sunday night wandering barefoot in Manhattan. The paper identified him as Jeffrey Hillman, formerly of South Plainfield, N.J.
Asked about the $100 all-weather boots Officer Larry DePrimo gave him on Nov. 14, Hillman says he's hidden them because "they are worth a lot of money."
He says he's grateful for the gift, but he wants "a piece of the pie" because the photo was posted online "without permission."
An Arizona tourist snapped the photo of the officer presenting new boots to Hillman. It went viral after it was posted on the NYPD's Facebook page.
Wow, ungrateful. Makes you wonder how many other pairs of shoes and socks he has "stashed". Piece of the pie? Really?  That speaks VOLUMES.Â
The problem here is that the officer just cut off about half of his income. No shoes gets him a whole #ell of a lot more money than he would get wearing those $100 boots.Â
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" Piece of the pie",what pie he got boots and socks. The picture taker didn't get anything,the police officer is out $100 . This person has to be a progressive Democrat,waiting for Obama to buy him a suit and coat to go along with the boots.
 Don't beleive this. Take a look at the post about the "fiscal cliff' Â
 @Maynard G Krebbs If this guy voted for Obama, he probably wants royalties that Obama won.
Classic example of what I have described as, "terminally homeless."
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Just shaking my head as I read this - no good deed goes unpunished. You want a piece of the pie? Here is an idea - go to a shelter, get cleaned up, get sober, or some mental health treatment, including taking your meds, and rejoin society.
@Howard Beale After they get cleaned up and did what you mentioned, they can learn how to make pie, and be able to get a job (or maybe be able to help serve pie to seniors at senior homes), and become useful in society. There are homeless people who actually can be helped and turn their life around, unfortunately, this one sounds like a loser. A wonderful kind heartd police officer will always be my hero, what a wonderful man. Deserves a reward of recognition for kindness.
 @Howard Beale Like your thoughts....like the terminology. : ) Fine advice - but lost on the urban outdoor camper. why make all that effort when you have a bunch of folks who believe that more needs to be done to help them out?
that shows ya there! never give a BUM anything of value as they'll just sell/trade it for drugs and alcohol
 @DylanJ it's in their nature
 @Pegasus  @DylanJ Don't make assumptions. That's like saying all Native Americans are alcoholics. They're not, I have a friend who is a N.A. and a program manager at Microsoft. Generalizations and assumptions only make the one that said it look foolish.
How about a piece of that pie they made in "The Help"?
Maybe this is why he's homeless. Total greed... those that give, don't be discouraged. Even if your work seems unappreciated, He always wants us to love one another regardless of the result.
 @makeadifferenceÂ
Accusing a homeless man of being greedy. Stunning.
 @Pahana If this isn't greed, I don't know what is.Â
 @Pahana  @makeadifference It is a breathtaking statement, isn't it? : )  Do you really think that an urban outdoor camper is above being greedy?
This is the reason this guy is homeless. It looks good to help, and maybe you feel nice, but think about why maybe the person is here...piss poor decisions, one after another.
Fine give him the same piece of pie the police officer received for giving him the boots...nothing. A big piece of nothing is in order for the homeless man. I understand living on the streets with a $100 pair boots could get him killed. So all he has to do is ask for something less expensive so he can wear shoes in the cold weather. Oh and be grateful without looking for a piece of the pie would help too.
This story just made my blood boil. I could have even accepted that he was afraid someone would steal the boots and he was afraid, but to say that he wants a "piece of the pie" too. This man is the worst case senerio of someone who does not deserve the kindness of someone like the police officer. There are so many needy people out there and to turn this into something like this just makes me wish the officer had done this kind deed for someone who would have appreciated it.
"Want's a piece of the pie".He got his piece...it was boots. No wonder this guy is homeless. He apparently believes that life should be handed to him.Â
I wonder if the gift from a cop caused more problems, then we know. With this story going viral, he may have been getting attack as a cop lover, or snitch. He may of felt that getting rid of the boots would help him live more at peace on the streets. I have never spent anytime on the streets of New York, but I am sure its not easy to do. You have to do what you have to do, to survive.
 @Just my say You don't have to be ungrateful. Even if his boots were causing backlash, he is greedy and wrong. Spend your time backing up homeless people that need help, not someone like this.
 @Just my say "Never argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience".
 @Pegasus  @Just my say Thank you, I'm learning that lesson very clearly tonight!
 @Pegasus  @Just my say Doesn't bother me at all. I give a gift because I wish to. No one forced that officer to do this good deed. Even if the gift was squandered, that doesn't reduce the kindness of this officer's gift. So there's no reason to make him sound like an idiot for doing what he did. Every time you donate to your favorite charity, some of that money is "squandered." Does that stop you from trying to help those who really need it? Can't let the bad apples destroy the entire barrel. It's not fair to the good apples just trying to make it.
 @Codie L DeMaris    I agree. There are a lot of people out there that are ill educated and when they talk, they spread ignorance. You're only as strong as your weakest player...so why don't we help those that are not as fortunate for us to progress society as a whole. We're not alone, we're in this together. We help each other out, strangers, neighbors, families, and friends. What if this homeless man was your child, don't just make generalizations that you feel suit, but try to think of where this person is and what they've gone through. He could be an Army Vet, he could be a doctor. We don't know. What we know is that he is not well, and needs help. So before you all go spreading hateful messages, step back and think.
 @Pegasus  @Joy Johnson  @Just my say When you make the choice to help, it should be done to try and lift a person up, not for personal gain. Nor because you chose to help this person are they obligated to do what you think they should do with it. This officer chose to do this and probably knowing that in the near future he would be shoeless again. If you know ANYTHING about being HOMELESS (which by reading these posts none of you can grasp the concept,) schizophrenia, depression and paranoia run rampant among these people ( who, by the way, have names, not just Homeless Person)!
People who live in glass houses ( or have a home in general!) should not throw stones. Walk a mile (or a day) WITHOUT shoes and THEN go back to your warm home, and make warm food, and take a hot shower, and then turn on your big screen and your internet and bitch about the choices that other people make.!!! I really hope that not all these ignorant comments are coming out of Seattle! Have you been downtown or to the Market on a cold and rainy night? Hope none of you end up trying to fight for a dry space in the nook of a door with no shoes on!!! Â
 @Joy Johnson  @Just my say One other thing Joy - with regards to one item in the comment you directed to me: "What do you do, when your choice is feed your children or fix the broken water pipe?" interesting question. What do you do? Everyday people make those choices (i have, and so have you). How does it make you feel when you part with some of that money that you work so hard for (helping a camper out), only to see it squandered?Â
 @Joy Johnson  @Just my say Are you really? Thanks for visiting StupidVille
Check the nearest pawn shop. Probably stocked up on cigarettes.
 @jack60 A $100 pair of boots should fetch upwards of 2 packs in NY.
Well, he just spent whatever sympathy the public had for him.
Why do we judge this man? He was given a gift and I think it was nice that the policeman gave him the boots, but he was under no obligation to wear them. It is his feet and if he gets frost bite, he has only himself to blame. All too often people give to others, but expect something in return and if that is the case, then you gave for the wrong reasons. If a homeless person asks me for money, I give knowing that he could be buying booze or drugs with the money and if they do, it is their choice, not mine. Â I don't give to them expecting them to live up to my expectations. One also shouldn't judge all the homeless people based upon the actions of the few.
 @jd94b It's not that he is being judged as a homeless person. He is being judged as being ungrateful and greedy. Perhaps judging this man is wrong... calling out greed and hate is corrective criticism. No judgment really, the facts speak for themselves.
 @makeadifference There are no facts to indicate this man should be judged as ungrateful and greedy. None.Â
 @jowsuf @Pegasus The way that these threads have been responded to is confusing. Opposing views here but replies are to all of us. As far as any facts to indicate that this man is greedy... how about this: Given free boots when he has none. Being ungrateful and wanting money from the photo... I'm sorry if this isn't obvious. If you're referring to a possible media bias I might tend to consider otherwise.
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 @jowsuf  @makeadifference Still posting....but have NOT answered my question........
 @jd94b " The reality is that if a homeless person spent the money you gave them on alcohol or drugs, they'd at least be able to get by for another day with a little less suffering." - STELLAR LOGIC!.
"The answer isn't in these small scale donations. Homelessness and the drug and alcohol abuse that goes along with it is a much more complex issue to deal with than it seems the majority of people on here want to admit" - SO WHAT IS THE ANSWER MR. SPOCK?
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Your as busy as I am typing responses about this story - You want people to understand the issues - tell them to read this, or look at that. Your telling this to the other humans who work, pay bills, land try to live their lives. Here's a thought for you to process- maybe you should impart some of that wisdom on these urban outdoor campers - maybe THEY could use some of your insight - suggest to them to do some research on understanding their problems - and how to fix them. You won't make any headway, but you should try.Â
 @jd94b "If a homeless person asks me for money, I give knowing that he could be buying booze or drugs with the money and if they do, it is their choice, not mine."
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That is a horrible attitude that contributes to the problem. You should slap yourself in the face for such stupidity. You are basically saying you are just fine with being an enabler for drug and alcohol abuse involving the homeless-which could be the reason they are homeless.
 @Dredd57  @jd94b I agree! Completely 100% true! Wait a minute.....jowsuf has some thoughtful insight .........
 @Dredd57  @jd94b The reality is that if a homeless person spent the money you gave them on alcohol or drugs, they'd at least be able to get by for another day with a little less suffering. Not giving these people money does them absolutely no good. The homeless will always get the things they're abusing. A homeless person going a day without their fix does nothing whatsoever to improve their life. They're still addicted, they're still going to do what they're going to do. They just might end up miserable for a day without a fix.
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The answer isn't in these small scale donations. Homelessness and the drug and alcohol abuse that goes along with it is a much more complex issue to deal with than it seems the majority of people on here want to admit. In reality, giving these people money is seen as a friendly and kind gesture. Saying no doesn't do anything for either party. Just something to think about.
 @Dredd57  @jowsuf I think what Dredd is trying to say is this is a bigger problem than a pair of boots, or a few dollars is going to make better. That those who need these things, when desperate, will do whatever they have to do to get them. So, find a solution that's permanent, patch as we go to keep things somewhat stable, and hopefully, the desperate will not break into your house to get what they need anyway. But either way, and I see no light at the end of this tunnel, we need to resolve the issue. As long as the imperialistic 2% has control, we are doomed to face these social dilemmas. There's really no winning here.
 @Dredd57 It's your closed mindedness that is the issue. @jowsuf wasn't saying he literally gives them money, but saying that if you do or do not give to them, that's not going to help them. They need treatment and rehabilitation (resources that you conservatives want to abolish), not temporal "fixes".
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Wait, if conservatives do want to abolish these resources, then they should be quiet on the issue. Much like if you don't vote, stop complaining about government. If you're not going to be a part of the solution, please be quiet as you're adding to the problem.
 @jowsuf  @makeadifference  @jd94b Well, when you're ready to debate like an adult and not an idiot, I'll be listening. Until then, I'll just be reading, and shaking my head with disbelief.
 @jowsuf  @makeadifference  @Dredd57  @jd94b Go make yourself a cup of hot cocoa.
 @jowsuf  @makeadifference  @Dredd57  @jd94b No answer. So now your resorting to being insulting. Let me refer you to some advice you suggested to me (I think): "I think you should take your advice and work on your critical thinking skills and emotional skills too". Hve a nice evening. Don't get all butt hurt thinking about all this. : )
 @Pegasus  @makeadifference  @Dredd57  @jd94b You're being immature, aggressive, and offensive. You don't deserve any explanation from me. Besides, do you really think that even if I presented you with irrefutable evidence to support my beliefs you'd do anything different from what you're doing now? I don't.
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You're just acting like a child. You're trolling. So I'm not a part of this discussion anymore.
 @jowsuf  @makeadifference  @Dredd57  @jd94b Stop being a DA . You make statements, offer suggestions - but no answers or explain why you feel the way you do. I asked a simple question, that is all. So what's the deal?
 @Pegasus  @makeadifference  @Dredd57  @jd94b "Your shocked at how our schools have failed? Really?"
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Read that sentence over one more time. Yeah, really.
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Stop trolling.Â
 @jowsuf  @makeadifference  @Dredd57  @jd94b Been smoking dope? Your shocked at how our schools have failed? Really? I think you should take your advice and work on your critical thinking skills and emotional skills too.
 @makeadifference  @Dredd57  @jd94b I am absolutely shocked at how much our schools have failed.Â
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Please work on your critical thinking skills and emotional control. I assume you're all adults. Start acting and thinking like one.
 @jowsuf  @Dredd57  @jd94b enabling
 @Dredd57  @jowsuf Dredd57 - that was awesome. Unfortunately, you could be Mr. Spock - the epitome of logic, and jowsuf still would not get it
 @jowsuf Dear god, you managed to sound even dumber than the original poster.
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"Not giving these people money does them absolutely no good."
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That's some stellar logic right there. And by stellar, I mean absolutely brainless. If they are using something that is destroying themselves, and they spend all their money on it, then how is that good? You can't be serious that aiding someones addiction to narcotics is good, helpful, or charitable.
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"A homeless person going a day without their fix does nothing whatsoever to improve their life."
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And using drugs does what? Improves their life? Seriously, do you even read what you post?
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"Saying no doesn't do anything for either party."
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Wrong, it allows me to keep my hard earned money, and it keeps them from using my money to buy drugs or alcohol. The prime reason I don't, and never will give money to the homeless. If you really want to help them, give them food or a job.