I don't see this helping. Bring back the benches so people will have some place to sit for free besides sidewalks. Set up more public restrooms, clearly marked so the public can find them. Create a legal "rest stop" camp for the homeless in the former city hall site, as city councilor Semple suggested during her campaign. 

Homeless people congregate downtown because that's where some of the services they need are, such as the Dining Room. Hire someone who can relate to homeless youth -- not police -- to talk to them and find out what they need. Pay some of these kids to do cleanup work downtown, as an alternative to panhandling, which the courts have ruled is constitutionally protected free speech. 

Most of all, the city needs to change its attitude. Real cities have a wide diversity of people, including the poor. Trying to ban them from public spaces is lousy public policy. The RG is not helping. Reporters aren't talking to the homeless.