HPD And Local Businesses Outline Plan To Solve Transient Problem

By Linda Kor
   As residents of Holbrook, it’s not difficult to see that the community has a transient problem. Usually, but not always, people from out of town, they wander our streets and alleyways in various states of intoxication. Some of these people are found passed out in the alleyways; others sit on benches or walls along our main streets.
   These individuals not only make the city uninviting, but they absorb the time of our local law enforcement and our emergency medical services.
   Calls are received daily to emergency services by citizens who, out of concern or anger, want these individuals removed from our streets for both their well being and the benefit of the community.
   Even the individuals themselves call, looking for a ride to the local detoxification center where they can find a warm bed and food, only to leave the facility of their own volition, even while still intoxicated.
   Holbrook Police Chief Mark Jackson has made it a goal to resolve the problem, and with the help of businesses that sell liquor in the community, he believes it can be done.
   In a meeting with Jack Young, owner of a local bar called Young’s Corral, the two men outlined a plan to document transient activity in our community, and to bring into sharp focus the situation, and how businesses and law enforcement can work together to come up with a solution.
   “We’re going to be gathering information on the transients by taking pictures of them in the alleyways, (and noting) the bottles and glass they leave behind, and the types of calls we get,” explained Jackson.
   What Jackson is hoping to do is create a presentation for not only the city council, but also other businesses in the community selling alcohol and urging them to participate in ways to change the situation.
   “Jack (Young) and the owners of Hatch’s Quick Stop are on board with helping with this endeavor. Resolving this problem will benefit everyone,” he said.
   Jackson believes one of the biggest culprits is the 40-ounce bottle of beer. The bottles litter the alleys and appear to be the container of choice for individuals who travel on foot through Holbrook.
   The value of the 40-ounce bottles to transients is that it allows for the bottle to be shared among others, requires fewer trips to the store and the screw top lid makes it more convenient for travel.
   “We’re going to work toward eliminating the 40-ounce bottles of beer in the community. I think it’ll be easier to convince the local liquor storeowners of this, because they live here and see the transients, the bottles and broken glass in our alleys. It may be a harder to convince liquor stores that have corporate ownership elsewhere,” stated Jackson.
   Jackson believes that the removal of just the 40-ounce bottles in the city will make a significant difference.
   “I have heard from the transients themselves that the reason they come to Holbrook is because the beer is cheaper and they don’t get hassled. We have to stop making this so convenient,” stated Jackson.
   In addition to tracking the transient population, Jackson has stepped up patrols in the alleys, making it less convenient to walk around Holbrook with a container of beer.
   The situation not only affects emergency services, but people in the community, as residents are rarely spotted walking the streets.
   “People are afraid to walk around, especially in the alleyways. I’ve had numerous occasions where I’ve personally had to walk women home because they were afraid of the area they had to walk through,” stated Jackson.
   With the information obtained by the police department and local businesses, Jackson hopes to put together a PowerPoint presentation that will provide a clear picture of the situation and solutions that he hopes the public will support.