TULSA, Okla. — Some south Tulsa business owners say they are facing problems with homeless people living nearby.
Human waste and vandalism – Some South Tulsa business owners say they're plagued by homeless people living in the brush near their buildings.
Two business owners said this has been going on for months near 71st Street and Lewis.
Ron Witmer is the owner of Video Revolution.
He rents a building near 71st and Lewis and said homeless people coming and staying in the bushes has been a problem for years.
During my interview with Whitmer, he pointed out where homeless people go to the bathroom.
“We actually found them coming into our lobby area and grabbing something…look, there's going to be some crap in there,” Whitmer said, pointing to the bushes. Told.
Whitmer is not alone in her problems.
Lauren Johnson was the first person to inform me about what was going on.
“It's a kind of helpless feeling to sit here and watch this happen over and over again and not be able to do anything,” Johnson said.
I walked into her Hammond Animal Hospital last week after a man broke in a few weeks ago.
When I was there, police were responding to some homeless people who had camped out in the bushes.
Police appear to have detained at least one person that day on charges of trespassing.
Johnson said they will be back.
She gave me multiple videos of people damaging and trespassing on her property.
She said she felt helpless.
“I don't really have a say unless it affects my property,” Johnson said.
Ms Johnson said they caused all sorts of damage to her business, including knocking down metal fence posts, but most frustratingly, they knocked over her lights and charged her cell phone in the electricity. Johnson said he had tried to do so.
Johnson said she wrote a long letter to city council members. She sent it to me, and I reached out to some members of Congress myself and was able to get in touch with 9th District Congressman Jamie Fowler.
“You need to make sure that it's not a suitable place for them to camp by removing any obstructions or temptations, such as alleys behind your business or other parts of your property,” Fowler says.
Fowler said that's something to keep an eye on.
“Nobody is a child of a lesser god and should be treated with dignity, but you know, business owners and corporations have rights too,” Fowler said.
We also spoke to the owner of the shopping center where the bushes are located.
He said by phone that clearing the bushes would not be the first option, but would monitor the area and potentially make improvements, such as better lighting.
On Tuesday night, Johnson said he had been contacted by several city council members, including Fowler, who were interested in meeting with city representatives, police and business owners in the community to discuss solutions. Ta.
