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Residents and business owners press council on downtown safety, homelessness
Summary
Multiple residents and downtown business owners told council they and customers have experienced harassment, theft and assaults in the downtown area and urged action; the police chief urged witnesses to file reports and press charges so officers can pursue investigations.
Several residents and downtown business owners addressed the Warrensburg City Council on Aug. 11 with concerns about safety, homelessness and disorder in the downtown area.
Tom Shaw, owner of a downtown accounting firm, said people who frequently sit at a planted corner near his office ask passersby for money and sometimes harass customers, which has led clients to ask staff to open a side entrance. Shaw said he had once been called to repair a plate-glass window following a late-night altercation.
Business owner Rick Zuniga said employees and customers at his 24-hour gym have been chased or harassed, and that incidents have included an exposure complaint and an employee struck by a thrown object. He told council the downtown atmosphere is driving some customers to larger businesses outside the downtown core.
Resident Max Rydenauer described being attacked on a sidewalk about a year earlier, and said his girlfriend now avoids walking alone downtown. "I was attacked on the sidewalk," he told council. He and others said harassment and panhandling are frequent and deter customers.
Resident Terry Smith urged the city to focus on safety measures that will encourage people to come downtown and stay to shop. Dr. Mary McCord, who said she is not representing a local nonprofit, told council many unhoused people are local residents and urged civic coordination to provide services; she said volunteer time can substitute for some grant-funded services that have been cut.
Police Chief Munsterman told the council and public that officers have investigated some of the incidents and that citizens should file statements and press charges where laws have been broken so police can pursue criminal cases. "If that type of stuff is occurring, laws being broken, please press charges," he said. The chief said some individuals encountered by police were in crisis and were taken for care.
No formal policy or ordinance changes were adopted at the meeting. Councilmembers and staff acknowledged the complexity of dealing with homelessness and public-safety issues and said the city would continue operations, investigations and interagency coordination.
Ending: Council and staff encouraged residents to report unlawful conduct to police, and staff said they are monitoring downtown conditions while exploring avenues for longer-term responses involving social services and enforcement.
