A young girl spent Monday’s lunch hour on the Third Street Promenade begging for and receiving $1 and $5 bills from at least a half dozen people in less than an hour.
Identifying herself as “Brittany,” she said she needed money for food and to pay for her motel room in downtown Los Angeles, which is $45 a day.
“Brittany,” who says she is 18 years old, makes about $50 a day panhandling.
She was offered a job that would pay cash daily. She was supposed to come to the Daily Press office at 3 p.m. on Monday, but she never showed.
Brittany said she is trying to get back home to Hawaii, but her parents won’t help her. Her father just got out of rehab, she said.
The manager of the restaurant where Brittany set up shop said she comes in to the restaurant with her boyfriend frequently, orders lunch and alcohol.
Even though she said she didn’t have identification, she provided an ID at the restaurant that said she is 21 years old.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 9, 2002. Read the original PDF.