'We have to lock the door'; Business owners in downtown St. Thomas, Ont. taking security and safety concerns to council
CTV
Downtown business owners in St. Thomas, Ont. say they are "fed up" with the problems related to homelessness, drug addiction and mental health in the city’s core.
Downtown business owners in St. Thomas, Ont. say they are "fed up" with the problems related to homelessness, drug addiction and mental health in the city’s core.
At Deneire’s Gallery of Fine Art, the only entrance is blocked by a man sleeping on the door step.
"It’s driving customers away," says Shawn Deneire, the gallery’s owner.
"They see that and they just keep walking."
He says it’s not uncommon to have to chase people away.
"Hopefully they're gone long enough that somebody wants to come in they come in," says Deneire.
"We've got we've got building owners here that have their business in there for 20 to 30 years and they're actually paying to leave their own building and renting out for somebody else."
