Business owners say they’re fed up with crime, vandalism, and open drug use in the lower Third Avenue area.
On Monday, a stack of pallets and tires outside Port Autotech was lit on fire, which could have destroyed the longtime automotive shop if it wasn’t for the quick action of firefighters.
Owner Kam Binng says business owners feel abandoned by city hall.
“The city knows what’s going on but they’re not doing anything,” he said. “It seems like they’re more concerned about taking care of them instead of the business owners who pay taxes. They should come and take a look because if this was in their back yards it wouldn’t be happening. This is my backyard, this is my livlihood. They say they’re helping the homeless but I don’t see they’re helping them. It seems like it’s getting worse every day.”
Binng says his business has lost many customers, and tens of thousands of dollars in business after Island Health opened the Overdose Prevention Site without any consultation of neighbouring businesses.
“Customers don’t want to come around, they feel unsafe, they don’t want to bring their vehicle down here to get worked on” he said. “How do explain to a customer that their car is dirty because a homeless person broke in and was sleeping in it. That’s it. That customer’s never coming back again.”
Business owners are planning to bring their concerns to the next meeting of city council.
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