SAN FRANCISCO >> San Francisco is trying to solve a problem in its popular Union Square: pushy panhandlers.

There have long been complaints by tourists and shoppers about aggressive beggars. One hotel says it removes about six a day from the hotel.

The San Francisco Chronicle says the Union Square Business Improvement District has been interviewing hundreds of people who give to panhandlers and now plans to interview the panhandlers themselves to provide real data. The idea is to come up with a solution to the problem by January.

Meanwhile, police have been cracking down. Since September, people have been arresting people who have 10 or more citations for crimes such as aggressive panhandling or public urination.