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Residents urge Georgetown council to address homelessness and downtown safety
Summary
Multiple residents told the Georgetown Town Council that panhandling, loitering and perceived law-enforcement gaps are hurting downtown safety and commerce; commenters urged more citizen reporting, health inspections for a local shelter, and organized community responses.
Georgetown — At the Aug. 25 Georgetown Town Council meeting, several residents urged the council to take action on homelessness and public-safety problems they say are affecting downtown businesses and residents.
The comments came during the public-comment portion of the meeting and focused on loitering, aggressive panhandling and what speakers described as repeat nuisance behavior near the shopping center and other town locations.
Shelley Wise, of Old Park Avenue, described repeated incidents she said local police did not resolve and said residents are fearful to shop downtown. "I have people that I've talked to who don't let their moms go in town to pick up groceries because of what they're afraid is gonna happen," Wise said.
Eddie Wise, of Park Avenue, said complaints extend to food handling at a local shelter, Shepherd's House, and asked whether the town or state health agency can intervene: "Who in the state needs to be called to have that stopped?" he asked. Dennis Winson Reed, of Park Avenue, urged residents to file complaints themselves and told the crowd to contact the state Division of Health for food-safety concerns: "If they can't help you, they will direct you. But the complaint has to come from the citizens, not from the council," Reed said.
Other residents suggested non-governmental steps. Adam Buzkowski, of South Bedford Street, urged civic pressure on property owners and businesses and said he would be interested in serving on a town homeless committee: "I'm just hoping to see an agenda item for the homeless committee. Very interested in joining that," he said.
Speakers repeatedly urged residents to call police and file incident reports so there is an official record. Several commenters said they have called law enforcement but still see recurring problems.
Council members did not take formal action during the public-comment period. The mayor and council thanked residents for their remarks and said they would follow up to see what the town can do to improve conditions.
The remarks did not include specific enforcement actions or policy changes by the council; callers recommended contacting state agencies, increased reporting to local police and community-organized responses as immediate steps.
