Social issues downtown continues to frustrate business owners, City

PRINCE GEORGE — A businesswoman downtown is once again raising questions about how problematic activity is being handled on her street. Jacqueline Marion, owner of Special Beauty Parlor & Day Spa admits the problem of homelessness and drug use on the doorstep of businesses has gotten much worse over the years, especially in 2020. She hopes a concrete solution can be found, saying, “I’ve seen the [foot patrol crews] for a little while. We’ve had police officers walking and giving that presence but I don’t see them anymore.

“It’s not happening anymore. It’s very rare that I see [foot patrol] walking by… I’ve had customers sitting in their vehicle with child and people walking up and knocking on their window. It’s scary. It’s not good for business.”

Marion’s business is located on 3rd Avenue on the same block as the needle exchange. She said drug paraphernalia is often left behind for store owners to clean up themselves.