Burning dollar bills on the sidewalk

From the archives of The New York Times circa 1987, George James reports:

"...Residents of apartment buildings with names like Manhattan House and Concorde gave her money.

Sal Lomonaco, a florist, used to give her flowers. She liked them, he said, but was troubled that they die.

From these and other neighborhood people, a picture emerges of a troubled person who appears to resent charity but who has begged for money and then thrown it away or burned it. She is at once bright and belligerent, singing 1950's ballads like ''How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?'' or made-up songs about her feelings of the moment and then yelling and cursing. She loves animals and children but has berated people, especially blacks, who tried to help her, even though she herself is black.

She was the victim of some street people who conned her of money, but she has physically assaulted some elderly would-be benefactors. 'It's Very Strange'

''She asks for a quarter and when you give her three quarters, she is going to throw the other two away,'' said Mr. Boletsis, who has given her sandwiches and pastry from the restaurant. ''I don't know why. It's very strange. A lot of people were worried about her. Many try to give her food. They stop and give her money, but sometimes she won't take it. 'I don't need your money,' she yelled.''

''Around Christmas time, that's the only woman I know who rips up $100 and $50 bills,'' said James Wilder, the 33-year-old floral designer in the East Williston Florist & Greenhouses across the avenue from where she sat.

''She likes to burn them,'' said Mr. Lomonaco, the 22-year-old co-owner.

''She rips them up in teeny little pieces,'' Mr. Wilder said..."

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