Residents urge council to address homelessness and downtown safety after business incidents

Two residents used the public forum at the Nov. 17 Thomasville City Council meeting to press the city on homelessness policy and downtown safety.

Ms. Melanie Delp told the Council she was concerned the city's ordinance against "camping on private property" — which the meeting record shows prohibits tents, blankets, cars and RVs — prevents private-property owners from allowing people to sleep in vehicles on their property. She said that while some restrictions are reasonable, the ordinance places most of the burden on people experiencing homelessness and suggested rent control as one possible measure to prevent homelessness, adding that the safety of unhoused individuals is also at risk.

Ms. Sam Darby, manager of Average Joe's, described a string of incidents affecting downtown businesses, including car break-ins and a tire-slashing targeting a bartender. Darby said police response time was slow on a recent call — "over 20 minutes" in one instance — and said the incidents have made employees and customers feel unsafe and harmed business.

Council and staff did not take action on these public comments during the meeting. Deputy City Manager Bowling later encouraged residents to report crimes directly to law enforcement rather than to social media or city staff, noting that timely reports increase the chances of solving crimes using the city's camera network.