JANESVILLE — Janesville residents are sharing opposing views online after the city of Janesville removed picnic tables and benches following complaints of ongoing antisocial behavior
Janesville police shared their reasoning Friday in a social media post, but numerous commenters said the move is only a Band Aid to a larger problem.
On Tuesday morning, at the request of the Janesville Police Department, City of Janesville Operations staff removed the picnic tables and benches from Firehouse Park (109 N. Main Street) and Volunteer Park (225 N. Main Street).
According to police, the temporary measure, along with increased staffing in the downtown was taken to help deter the ongoing antisocial behavior that has affected these areas and the broader downtown community, police said.
But many in the community say the city needs a better solution to the homeless and vagrant issue.
“So instead of finding a solution to the core problem which is homelessness and mental health we just remove benches?” one person wrote.
Police, however, emphasize that the strategy was not implemented simply because persons experiencing homelessness were using these parks.
Rather, they say it specifically targets a small group of individuals—some experiencing homelessness and others not—whose aggressive and harassing conduct has created fear and discomfort for those who live, work, and visit our downtown.
Over the past six months, police say citizens, business owners and downtown organizations have reported incidents of aggressive panhandling, harassment, vandalism, property damage, public intoxication, and other disruptive behaviors.
Not including calls for service at the police department, police say they have responded to 1,110 incidents within the area shown on the attached map from the beginning of the year through Sept. 25. In comparison, police have responded to 15,065 incidents citywide during the same period.
The Janesville Police Department says it has been actively working with downtown business owners and groups to address these concerns and develop solutions that promote a safe, welcoming environment for everyone.
The Janesville Police Department remains committed to partnering with our downtown businesses to support their investment in revitalizing the downtown area while ensuring employees and customers feel safe. At the same time, poluce say they continue to collaborate with local nonprofit organizations to connect those experiencing homelessness with support, resources and services that can help improve their circumstances.