Business owners, police and councilors press Roswell leaders to address downtown homelessness and mental-health gaps

Business owners, residents and city police told the Roswell City Council on Wednesday that downtown homelessness has escalated into a public‑safety and public‑health problem that is affecting tourism and local businesses.

At public comment, Chuck Dwyer, who owns a downtown souvenir store and rents nearby properties, described repeated incidents he said have driven visitors away: “This air show with all these people … they’re seeing all this mess,” Dwyer said, and recounted calls to police after people exposed themselves and incidents involving hypodermic needles. His wife, Gina Dwyer, told the council she now carries pepper spray and sometimes changes parking to feel safe at work: “I don’t feel safe,” she said.

Roswell Police Chief Adam said police are making arrests but face limits because of staffing, judicial outcomes and short shelter stays. “We arrest them and we'll be good for a couple of days, but then they're right out on the street doing the same…