Palm Springs leaders come together to talk about the homeless

Palm Springs business owners and city leaders got together to talk about solutions to the homeless problem.

The overall feeling from business owners is that they’ve had enough.

Many people said they’re sick of seeing the homeless vandalizing, urinating and using drugs near their place of employment.

Thursday they asked the city to listen to their grievences and help.

Steven Erickson said the problem isn’t just the number of homeless people, but the apparent tie to drugs.

He has pictures of syringes he’s found scattered near his business.

“I think the city needs to take a serious approach. Making it very difficult and very uncomfortable for them. Telling residents and tourists not to give them money, cause that’s what they want and they’re buying drugs with it,” Erickson said.

He said he’s spent thousands of dollars installing security cameras.

“These people charge their cellphones by pulling live wires out of our wall. My building is going to catch on fire,” Erickson said.

It was a packed house Thursday as business leaders shared stories of their encounters with the homeless population.

All in an effort to get help from council so something can be done.

Some say building a center on the west side of town could be a solution.

“The biggest problem is we do not have affordable housing. Nor do we have a center that would be close enough to get to where they could be, rather than being out on the streets,” said Arlene Rosenthal the president of the Well in the Desert.

Erickson said the reputation of Palm Springs is at stake.

“They come and see someone being obnoxious, begging and shacking and scattered out, who’s going to move here?” Erickson said.

Many said figuring out a solution won’t be easy but if they start the conversation the next step is fixing the problem.