A more offensive version of Chicago's bold, yellow "Target: Rats" posters have been spotted around the city.
The rodent posters, which normally have a teeth-baring rat in a pair of crosshairs, offer a more inhumane approach to dealing with the issue of homelessness.
"Target: Bums," the posters declare.
One sign was spotted behind Piece Brewery and Pizzeria, on the 1900 block of West North Avenue. Others have been posted in the Bucktown neighborhood.
Crews from Chicago's Department of Streets & Sanitation have been instructed to remove the "offensive" signs when they find them.
The signs list bullet points on what to do if one encounters a homeless person:
- "Keep all handouts securely in pockets, billfold or purse"
- "Bums can cause guilt -- avoid eye contact"
- "Properly dispose of all cardboard boxes"
- "Return shopping carts to their point of origin"
- "Don't give Bums a free meal"
Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) said fines for putting illegal signs in the public way can be steep.
