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Business owners on Daytona’s beachside say safety concerns have become a daily challenge, and they are calling for help. Managers and employees along the busy corridor report frequent disruptions tied to people experiencing homelessness, including panhandling and confrontations with customers.Patricia Williams-Fay, manager of the Starlite Diner, said the issue is affecting business.”They come in at times, and they’ll harass our customers,” she said. “Panhandle in the building, panhandle out front. And as much as we would like to be able to give them whatever they want, we can’t afford to do that.”As concerns grow, the Beachside Redevelopment Board is weighing whether to add dedicated patrols throughout the district. In fact, the city’s Beachside Redevelopment Board, which acts like an advisory board, said there needs to be a change.Board members previously requested a quote from First Coast Security, the same company that patrols Beach Street. But because the Beachside area is significantly larger, foot patrols like those used on Beach Street are not practical. Instead, two alternative options were presented.Golf cart patrol costing $135,000 per year, operating Monday through Saturday, and vehicle patrol costing $148,000 annually, with the same schedule.The city is also exploring the option of hiring a detail police officer, though the cost has not yet been determined. Thomas Caffrey, a board member, said a foot patrol may not be necessary on Main Street, but the Beachside and A1A boardwalk corridor, especially the boardwalk, would benefit from one. Other board members said they support the golf cart option.Caffrey said the board will decide Wednesday night whether to recommend private security or a dedicated police officer, noting that private security would guarantee consistent coverage.”The hired security is nice because they are guaranteed to be there. If we get a police officer, there is a chance it could be called outside of the district.”The proposed patrol zone would begin on Seabreeze Boulevard and run south to International Speedway Boulevard.Business owners say increased security presence could make a major difference. Still, Williams-Fay said efforts should also focus on getting people experiencing homelessness the help they need.”I think that it would be a good idea that this force, whatever they put over here, can take them to the hospital to wherever they need to go to get help, you know,” she said.”The board’s recommendation will move next to city staff, and they’ll decide whether to present it to the Daytona Beach City Commission for further consideration.
Business owners on Daytona’s beachside say safety concerns have become a daily challenge, and they are calling for help.
Managers and employees along the busy corridor report frequent disruptions tied to people experiencing homelessness, including panhandling and confrontations with customers.
Patricia Williams-Fay, manager of the Starlite Diner, said the issue is affecting business.
“They come in at times, and they’ll harass our customers,” she said. “Panhandle in the building, panhandle out front. And as much as we would like to be able to give them whatever they want, we can’t afford to do that.”
As concerns grow, the Beachside Redevelopment Board is weighing whether to add dedicated patrols throughout the district.
In fact, the city’s Beachside Redevelopment Board, which acts like an advisory board, said there needs to be a change.
Board members previously requested a quote from First Coast Security, the same company that patrols Beach Street. But because the Beachside area is significantly larger, foot patrols like those used on Beach Street are not practical. Instead, two alternative options were presented.
Golf cart patrol costing $135,000 per year, operating Monday through Saturday, and vehicle patrol costing $148,000 annually, with the same schedule.
The city is also exploring the option of hiring a detail police officer, though the cost has not yet been determined.
Thomas Caffrey, a board member, said a foot patrol may not be necessary on Main Street, but the Beachside and A1A boardwalk corridor, especially the boardwalk, would benefit from one. Other board members said they support the golf cart option.
Caffrey said the board will decide Wednesday night whether to recommend private security or a dedicated police officer, noting that private security would guarantee consistent coverage.
“The hired security is nice because they are guaranteed to be there. If we get a police officer, there is a chance it could be called outside of the district.”
The proposed patrol zone would begin on Seabreeze Boulevard and run south to International Speedway Boulevard.
Business owners say increased security presence could make a major difference. Still, Williams-Fay said efforts should also focus on getting people experiencing homelessness the help they need.
“I think that it would be a good idea that this force, whatever they put over here, can take them to the hospital to wherever they need to go to get help, you know,” she said.”
The board’s recommendation will move next to city staff, and they’ll decide whether to present it to the Daytona Beach City Commission for further consideration.
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