shoshanasphotos
stranger no. 13
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this is Chuck. he's a squeegee guy - someone who goes up to cars at red lights and washes the windshield and asks for money. i gave him and his friend $1.00 and took their pictures and talked to them for about fifteen minutes. he was very polite and personable.
he said they make between $10.00 - $30.00 an hour. not everyone gives them money. he said squeegee girls get more money if they are attractive and that he does well with punks when he has his shirt off (he said he's covered in tattoos and they think he's cool). older people will give if he is polite and respectful and sometimes middle-class guys will give because they can empathize with needing work/money.
people feel obligated to give money because the squeegee guys have provided a service (albeit one that is forced on the driver). he said sometimes people give money because they are scared. some of the squeegee guys are pretty intimidating.
squeegeeing is illegal in most places, including toronto. halifax was the last place it was legal, and they prohibited it a few years ago. the police usually hassle them and they move around a lot. they get about a ticket a day ($65-$125) but they don't pay the fines. it is the same charge that prostitutes are often arrested for - soliciting someone in a vehicle for money.
Find out more about the project at www.100Strangers.com
i posted a picture below - do you prefer one or the other? i like the bottom one because his eyes are beautiful.
stranger no. 13
+1 in comments
this is Chuck. he's a squeegee guy - someone who goes up to cars at red lights and washes the windshield and asks for money. i gave him and his friend $1.00 and took their pictures and talked to them for about fifteen minutes. he was very polite and personable.
he said they make between $10.00 - $30.00 an hour. not everyone gives them money. he said squeegee girls get more money if they are attractive and that he does well with punks when he has his shirt off (he said he's covered in tattoos and they think he's cool). older people will give if he is polite and respectful and sometimes middle-class guys will give because they can empathize with needing work/money.
people feel obligated to give money because the squeegee guys have provided a service (albeit one that is forced on the driver). he said sometimes people give money because they are scared. some of the squeegee guys are pretty intimidating.
squeegeeing is illegal in most places, including toronto. halifax was the last place it was legal, and they prohibited it a few years ago. the police usually hassle them and they move around a lot. they get about a ticket a day ($65-$125) but they don't pay the fines. it is the same charge that prostitutes are often arrested for - soliciting someone in a vehicle for money.
Find out more about the project at www.100Strangers.com
i posted a picture below - do you prefer one or the other? i like the bottom one because his eyes are beautiful.