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Downtown business owners urge stronger action on safety, cite break-ins and vandalism
Summary
Several downtown property and business owners told the council that recurring vandalism, break-ins and visible homelessness are making downtown feel unsafe for customers and employees. Speakers asked the council for faster, stronger responses and questioned certain nonprofit arrangements.
Multiple downtown property owners and business operators used the Sept. 8 public-comment period at the Salem City Council meeting to urge faster and stronger action on public safety and downtown livability.
Jerry Jones, who manages several downtown properties, said his employees were threatened at knifepoint and that a recent vandalism incident caused “tens of thousands of dollars” in damage to a managed building. “It’s frustrating as a citizen and as somebody who is a taxpayer and employs people … to see this continue to just happen over and over again,” Jones said.
Patrick Carney, who identified himself as a partner in several downtown parcels including the Salem…
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