The Plaza has been singling out handicapped performers and giving them ban notices. It has happened to others that I know of, but the one from Friday is the most egregious example. Dan C. is a 45 year old man with autism. He's not able to hold a regular job, but does play the guitar very very well. He doesn't want to sit home, he wants to work like regular folk, so he will go and play his guitar for tips. He does not panhandle. Because of his autism he does not even speak to strangers. Also because of his autism he does not break rules. His caretaker told him where he was allowed to perform and he does not deviate from that at all. A rule is a rule and you don't break them in his world. On Friday Dan's caretaker drove him to the Plaza and let him set up. After a while Dan got nervous by the way the security was acting around him. He stopped playing and packed up then went to Barnes and Noble to find his caretaker and go home. The Highwoods people stopped him and gave him a ban notice claiming that he panhandled. I can not state strongly enough that he does not panhandle. That would involve skills outside of his ability. He plays his guitar, avoids eye contact and hopes people tip him. For the next six months he is banned from entering the Plaza, even on the public right of ways. To do so would cause Highwoods to call the cops and have him arrested for trespassing.
Why Dan and not one of the actual panhandlers? Because handicapped people are a lot less likely to stand up for themselves. They don't like the way it looks to see a person with odd mannerisms (due to his autism) on the Plaza, so they banned him. I'm in trouble if they ever decide to ban fat chicks. Of course security knows I won't just go quietly, so they may leave me alone anyway.
