Burlington business owner says public safety issues are driving away customers: 'We've seen the worst'

A business owner in the town of Burlington, Vermont, has admitted that the homeless and drug problems, along with its rising crime rate, have cost his sporting goods store more business than at any time in its long history.

John George-Wheeler, owner of Skirack — a sports store in the heart of Vermont's densely populated town — told Fox News Digital this month that the economic cost of customers being driven out of town because of safety concerns has been worse than any other recession. or recession his business has seen in its 55-year lifespan.

“In those 55 years, we've been through a lot. We've been through '08 and other recessions. And historically, this is the worst we've seen,” George-Wheeler said.

BURLINGTON, VERMONT, SPREADS FROM HIGHEST MURDER RATE IN DECADES AFTER POLICE ATTACK

“We definitely need the support of our local Vermonters,” he said.

The local business owner, like other members of the Burlington community, has been dealing with a combination of the many problems plaguing the city, including rising homelessness, drugs and crime that plague the beautiful city.

“So when you have an intersection of construction, road closures, recession, homelessness, and drug addiction, we must, of course, take care of those people who are harmed by addiction, but also take care of those people who call this place home. at home or at work every day,” he said.

“And it's not a single, one-sided issue. It's mixed. And we really need to address it with unity, with an open mind to support the taxpayers here.”

Homelessness is at an all-time high in Burlington – there are more than 350 people living on the city's streets. Among them are people addicted to hard drugs like fentanyl, which has led to a 1,000 percent increase in overdoses this year alone, leaving first responders overwhelmed.

PHILADELPHIA POLICE, OFFICERS WARN OF 'Vicious Cycle' INCREASING VIOLENCE IN CITY

Two people are seen walking down the brick road on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont. (Fox Stories)

2024 data shows that violent crime is present in the city. Aggravated assaults have increased by 40 percent, and gunshots have increased by nearly 300 percent. Local residents told Fox News they find it “dangerous” to go out in public at night.

The owner of the store explained the situation of the local businessmen behind these problems. He said there are many who find it difficult but have found ways to unite and spread awareness of the problems and discuss solutions.

“I think a lot of businesses are tired and tired – tired. But I also know that there is a strong group of businesses that redouble their efforts to support each other. Whether we hear support from other sources or not, I think we got it. They come back together and this is the Vermont I grew up in, Vermont taking care of its neighbor,” said George – Wheeler.

Many of these problems are caused by a combination of factors, including the opioid crisis plaguing Vermont, the housing crisis following the epidemic, and police cuts that occurred in the wake of the 2020 racial justice movement.

That year, the city council approved a resolution that year to support a 30% reduction in the police force. In addition, the decision declared racism a city-wide public health problem. As a result, the previous number of 105 police officers was reduced to 74 only.

PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOOD IS CONCERNED WITH HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM, BONE-CUTTING MEDICINE USERS

Two homeless men struggle to stay warm outside a business in Burlington, Vermont as temperatures drop overnight. (Fox Stories)

In the years since, the Burlington City Council has voted to increase police numbers and increase funding by $2.47 million. However, the city has struggled to fill these positions, as there are currently only 68 police officers on the force.

Pomerleau Real Estate CEO and Burlington community leader Ernie Pomerleau told Fox News he believes the initial vote to defund the police “was a mistake.”

“So, they allowed torture to bring down the police force – that was a mistake,” he told reporters, adding, “We have to support the police.”

George-Wheeler told Fox News that she believes the community is doing everything it can to help the homeless, but stressed that the community needs to start bringing better police to this population.

“I think we need to get people into treatment, period. However, you cannot do that without supporting the other side. And according to the response of the police and the police, admittedly, they are not fully equipped to deal with the problems. We are close, and I believe that the city government also agrees with that because it passed in the latest budget – the mayor passed funding for the additional employment of ten officers.

“We know that they are understaffed and cannot deal with the problems we are facing as a community,” he said.

Fox News spoke with another Burlington business owner named Patricia who made a similar point, saying that the focus can't just be on compassion for the homeless and drug addicts, but should include the well-being of the business owners and the community as a whole.

“There seems to be a lot of attention in this city and the government in helping people who are addicted,” he said. “It seems that people who do business are lacking, you know those who are trying to run a store.”

CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM