Aggressive panhandlers scare off customers, business owners say

Edmonton businesses north of downtown say a spike in aggressive panhandling isbad for business.

"It's become more aggressive," says Ellie Sasseville, executive director of the Kingsway Business Zone.

"They used to stay out of the way of business. Now we're finding they're more aggressive. They're right in the doorways sitting in the doorways panhandling."

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Some businesses are locking their doors to keeppanhandlers out, she told Edmonton AM host Mark Connolly Thursday.

"That's not a solution, that's a surrender."

The problemis turning off customers who are taking their business elsewhere, she said.

The areaspansKingsway,Beverly and Chinatown, but is worstnear 101st Street and 111th Avenue, Sasseville said.

Sasseville points to the growing number of homeless people in the city, but also indowntown's Ice District.

"It does appear to be that there is so much attention focused on downtown right now with the IceDistrict," she said.

"There's been a new initiative to put more beat officers on the streets of downtown .. . that may contribute to some of these individuals moving out of the downtown area."

Business leaders received a commitment from city council this week to work with them toward a short-term solution.

"We can't solve homelessness," she said. "But we need some short-term solutions that will help us co-exist,if nothing else, until a long-term solution can be found."