Huntington, W.VA. (WSAZ) – Since his entry into office in January, the mayor of Huntington, Patrick Farrell, said that he wanted to make the city a more favorable environment for business.
This, while business owners have expressed concerns about the city’s security and economic future.
When you talk about local businesses in the city of Huntington, the Jeff bicycle store has been a must on the sixth avenue for decades.
“A little over 35 years in the city center,” said owner Jeff Joy. “We have seen many different changes that the city has crossed over the years.”
Joy says that some of these changes have been positive … others, not so much.
“Right now, homelessness is a problem,” said Joy. “We see a lot of needles.”
Joy says he believes that these problems harm the city and the net result for many.
“As a business owner, you hate seeing people say that they hate coming to the city center because of what they meet when they come to the city center,” he said. “It’s a big problem, and I hear that of everyone.”
The problems extend from long -term retail to restaurants.
When you catch a bite to eat in the city center, it is likely that you stopped the hawker.
“I’ve been in the match for a long time,” said owner Drew Hetzer. “We opened in 2012, we love this city, we like to be able to offer different experiences to people in the city center and also serve excellent food.”
Hetzer, who also has a backyard pizza next to it, said he thought that the same problems create challenges to put customers in the door.
“It is bringing people to go out and discover your business,” said Hetzer. “This is the main objective of city center companies.”
So enter the mayor of employment Patrick Farrell.
He says that he plans to promote a friendly environment, support local entrepreneurs and attract investments, but with some business owners concerned and others even closing the store, we wanted to know how he planned to do and solve problems.
“Why was it such a great push of the door, first of all, we first want to tackle businesses, among others?” asked Lesya Feinstein from Wsaz.
“Among other things, this is exactly true, we will first fight against public security,” said Mayor Farrell. “After public security, we must invest in our infrastructure, all to help companies develop.”
“Security is a concern in the Huntington region,” Hetzer Lesya asked Hetzer Lesya to the hawker. “Tell me about this, do you feel safe, does your crew feel safe to work here?”
“One of the most important things I think, something very important to bring people to go out is if they feel safe,” said Hetzer. “We need the right measures to be taken so that people feel safe for dinner and shop in downtown Huntington.
“As a business owner, what would you like to see?” Lesya asked Joy to Jeff’s Bike Shop.
“This should be the top priority,” he said. “Take the people out of the street, by removing the drug addicts from here is definitely number one.”
“How to approach this problem?” Lesya asked.
“We make it safer. I’m not just saying that. Public security is always in everyone’s mind. You really have to make it safer, but you must also have a security perception, ”replied Farrell. “There are a lot of things we can do, we can certainly use police forces to make sure the bad element is deleted. At the same time, we will show people that it is a safe, dynamic and welcoming city and a place where they can enjoy a night of shopping or catering and this is the place where they can bring their family. »»
“Do you understand why companies would be tired of coming here?” Lesya asked the mayor.
“Companies are concerned and people are affected,” said Farrell. “When people feel dangerous in their neighborhood, whether in the park or in their backyard. When they find needles, it becomes a problem. What we can do as a population is to ensure that the population of the homeless is neat in a benevolent way and to ensure that the laws are applied. »»
Farrell says that he plans to create a friendly environment by what he describes as “doing ordinary things extraordinarily good”.
This includes withdrawal of snow, guarantees and lights work and fixing the sidewalks.
Business owners are anxious to change and create an environment where they can grow and prosper.
“The more prosperous businesses in the city center, the more pedestrian traffic you will get, the more media threw on people who wish to come to the city center to shop, eat and experience what Huntington has to offer “Said Hetzer.
You will notice that Farrell did not have many details in his answers to our questions.
By working on his plans, he came out with a investigation For information from business owners.
He asked them to fill it, to see what helped, what was not and what they would like to see in the future.
This is only four questions, but he thinks that these answers will be essential to implement the change.
We will check how he uses this information.
Huntington business owners can complete the survey here.
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