Downtown Augusta, Maine Business Owners Say Some Homeless People May Start Adversely Affecting Business

It's an issue that Augusta has been dealing with for several years now, though recently is has seemingly reached a fever pitch.

Since the number of homeless people and transients have been on the increase, so too is the concern from downtown merchants over the affect they say it is having on businesses.

Now, just to clarify, it's not all of the unhoused community that is causing the alleged issues, but there are reportedly a good number of 'aggressive' transients that are the primary cause for alarm.

Some downtown business owners say that there are unhoused folks who loiter in front of businesses, demand money from passing strangers, bang on cars with people inside them and wander into businesses demanding food and/or money. Some merchants say this will soon deter customers from visiting Water Street businesses.

It's not a shock that this issue has finally made its way to the Augusta City Council. The Council has proposed a measure that would create a fine of $100.00 for people that were engaging in 'unreasonable solicitation'. However, some Augusta residents don't want to see this enacted.

Augusta resident, Sam Baker, told the Council in part,

“While I appreciate their perspective, I do not agree with their proposed solution — to get tougher with unhoused individuals by increasing the crimes or misdemeanors that police can arrest people for, and that the district attorneys can charge unhoused people with,”

Eric Lind, Councilor for Augusta's Ward 4 said in part,

“It’s a public safety issue; it is not a solution to dealing with homelessness, and I didn’t see a nexus there,” who brought the proposed ordinance to councilors for consideration. “I understand what you’re saying, but I didn’t see it that way, and I still don’t. I see it more as a public safety issue, to provide a level playing field for everyone to have freedom of movement. Without feeling like their freedom of movement, or even freedom of speech, is being impeded by others that may not have good judgement.”