Council approves helping businesses impacted in August

“We’re willing to stick our necks out and give $20,000 for the folks downtown because of the explosion. What about other folks that have been victims of crime and that and we’ve already been contacted ourselves some accounts and said, look, okay, you know who’s next? So I just thought we could have done that differently. So I voted against it.”

He noted the hair salon that burned downtown and the barbershop, and he says none of that was the City’s fault. But other resources have to be looked at.

“We need more downtown patrols. We need a whole bunch of things. We’re busy always trying to get as many temporary units for the unsheltered as they can. BC Housing is trying to get as many temporary units that they can for the unsheltered. But the more they build, the more folks that coming. So it’s just this continuing problem.”

However, his arguments fell on deaf ears and Council forged ahead.

Babich explains what’s next.

“The next steps are to put together that agreement and work with downtown Prince George. They’ll be doing that on a first-come, first-serve basis. We understand the time limit for applications to downtown Prince George is December 31st and any funds that are not utilized will be returned to the City maximum as Council approved is $20,000 from the County Council contingency fund.”

To be eligible, the business has to be in the C-1 zone with a valid business license and a downtown Prince George member in good standing.

by Cheryl Jahn

Council approves helping businesses impacted in August

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