Description

The front steps of this building have always been a bit of a loitering spot over the years, but it has seriously escalated (especially since the chiropractor's office closes). I'm not talking about people using the laundromat next door coming outside to sit and smoke or relax while waiting for their clothes to dry. I'm talking about groups of homeless or semi-homeless guys who congregate there from early morning until late at night. They block the sidewalk and, when one tries to walk by, they panhandle or ask for cigarettes or just make crude, annoying comments. Some of them defecate and urinate in the shrubbery. It's gotten completely out of control - to the point that I will walk four or five blocks out of my way to avoid this spot on what should be a two block walk to the supermarket. I know the usual advice is to just call the cops, but that would mean I'd be making at least a half dozen calls every single day. Whenever a policeman does stop to ticket them or just tell them to move along, they just move to another spot - usually just across to Dana Park where they continue to drink in public, yell out to pedestrians. And then they move right back to these steps or to steps on Jefferson Street (the side door of the salon at the corner of Delaware and Jefferson is another one of their regular spots). It's just out of control.