The Castro Merchants Association, named after the city's Castro District, sent a letter to San Francisco city officials saying group members who own businesses in the area intend to stop paying taxes if the city doesn't do more to handle the problems, reported KTVU.
In the note, the organization lamented the number of homeless people who "regularly experience psychotic episodes," vandalize storefronts, and harass business owners, employees, residents and tourists.
WATCH: RUBIO TALKS ABOUT BIDEN'S WEAPONIZED JUSTICE SYSTEM
"Our community is struggling to recover from lost business revenue, from burglaries and never-ending vandalism/graffiti (often committed by unhoused persons) and we implore you to take action," stated the letter.
"Every day we wake up and have to help people on the street. We have to clean up feces on the street. We have to clear our people from doorways, so we can open our businesses. It's not fair," said Terrance Alan, co-president of the association, and owner of Flore Dispensary and Cafe Flore to KTVU. "At this point it's a failure of the system to help them."
WATCH: TRUMP CAMPAIGN SUING NEVADA
The association asked that the city keep 35 beds in homeless shelters for people in the Castro district, outline a plan for offering services to people who refuse help, and keep monthly records of how many people have been offered services and shelter.
BIG STAGE MOVE: RFK JR. CHALLENGES TRUMP TO DEBATE, WILL HE ACCEPT?
"Sometimes they do get violent," said Deen Nasher, manager of Castro Smoke Shop. "The city does need to take care of these people, find a place for them to stay and help businesses. When we call, [the police] come 30-40 minutes later."
Dave Karraker, the other co-president of the association, said that if the association’s demands are not met, they may ask store owners to stop paying taxes and other city fees.
NEW RECORD: ASTONISHING AMOUNT POURED INTO 2024 KENTUCKY DERBY BETS
"If the city can't provide the basic services for them to become a successful business, then what are we paying for?" Karraker told the San Francisco Chronicle. "You can't have a vibrant, successful business corridor when you have people passed out high on drugs, littering your sidewalk. These people need to get help."
HOW DEEP DOES THE RABBIT HOLE GO? BOEING EMPLOYEES ACCUSED OF FALSIFYING RECORDS
San Francisco’s Department of Public Health (DPH) responded to the group, admitting the association's concerns and citing state policies that make their demands difficult to meet.
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN: NEW POLL SHOWS DISNEY IS LOSING ITS MAGIC, HERE IS WHAT THEY WANT...
"Clinical teams are trained in assessing individuals for involuntary holds. However, California state law sets a very high threshold for these holds, and often that threshold is not met, even when it looks to the public like an individual needs help," read the DPH statement.
PRO-PALESTINE ACTIVIST GROUP CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR TORCHING POLICE VEHICLES IN PORTLAND
San Francisco businesses have seen a large increase in burglaries and vandalism since 2019, prompting The Castro Merchants Association to begin documenting incidents. The association noted over 90 incidents totaling more than $170,000 in repair costs since 2020.
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
