Councilman John Cranley was arrested yesterday for aggressive panhandling.  “He obviously took his ‘fighting for change’ campaign slogan a little too far,” said Sgt. William Gunther.  “It’s things like this that scares people away from downtown.”

“The problem is that people keep on giving them money,” says young republican Steve Fritsch.  “The more people do this, the more it encourages them to continue begging instead of working in the private sector.”

With over $139,800 in campaign contributions raised, there really doesn’t appear to be any reason to stop.

When asked for comment Cranley said “’scuse me.  Do you have 59 cent?”