City’s Homelessness and Drug Use Initiatives Pose Challenges for Kensington Restaurant Owners

The owners of Cantina la Martina in Philadelphia’s Kensington section have expressed their concerns over the city’s recent actions to address homelessness and drug use in the area. Since the city began cleaning the streets and removing an encampment last month, individuals experiencing homelessness and drug users have been pushed closer to their restaurant, owned by Mariangeli Alicea and Chef Dionicio Jiménez.

Alicea and Jiménez have noticed that people who previously gathered in other areas have now migrated to a spot near their business. They have encountered people sleeping on their doorsteps in the morning, which has made them feel unsafe. Sales at their Kensington location have declined by 60% since the city’s actions began in early May, prompting them to rely on their food truck at Cherry Street Pier for additional income.

The restaurant owners believe that more significant solutions are needed to address the underlying issues of homelessness and drug use in the neighborhood. They feel that simply moving people from one area to another is not a sustainable approach. Despite the city’s plan to increase police presence in Kensington, Alicea and Jiménez are skeptical about its effectiveness in addressing the root causes of these issues.

Alicea emphasized that policing alone will not resolve the crisis and that a more comprehensive approach is required. The recent deployment of a new class of police officers to Kensington has created further uncertainty for the restaurant owners, who feel that the progress made in recent weeks may have been undermined by these actions. They are calling for a more transparent discussion of the city’s long-term plans for addressing homelessness and drug use in the area.

While Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker’s office declined to comment on the situation, the police department emphasized the importance of engaging with community members in developing and implementing strategies for addressing these complex social issues. Alicea and Jiménez remain committed to supporting their neighborhood and hope for more collaborative efforts with city officials to create lasting solutions.

In conclusion, Cantina la Martina owners expressed their concerns regarding recent actions taken by Philadelphia authorities to address homelessness and drug use in Kensington section. The restaurant owners observed that individuals who previously gathered in other areas migrated closer to their business after city efforts last month cleaned up streets and removed an encampment, leading to decline sales at their location by 60%. Alicea believes policing alone will not solve this crisis, but rather requires a comprehensive approach.

Philadelphia police department stressed on engaging with community members while developing strategies for addressing complex social issues like homelessness and drug use while Mayor Cherelle Parker’s office declined comment on this issue.

Alicea & Jiménez remained committed to supporting their neighborhood but are calling for more transparent discussions with city officials about long-term plans for addressing these issues so they can continue serving customers safely while contributing positively towards community development goals.