Homeless camping at "Meadow Gold" sign, business owners say causing safety concerns

TULSA -- Business owners along Route 66 say the homeless are causing safety issues. 

Quoc Vo, a mechanic at Lazar Imports, said about seven or eight homeless people have set up camp under the Meadow Gold sign near 11th and Peoria. 

He said they leave behind clothes, couches, recliner chairs and drug paraphernalia. 

"We have a regular relationship with calling 911," Vo said. 

In the last couple of weeks, Vo said the homeless have been taking off their clothes and throwing them at passing cars.  

"On one occasion I've had to kick a guy off of a car that I was getting ready to drive while he was smoking," Vo said. "He was smoking something out of a beer can."

Business owners said it is impacting their customers who are scared to walk past the homeless because they are being loud and acting erratically. 

"It pains me to see that instead of attracting people it can turn them away," Charlie Spears, owner of SoBoCo said about the Golden Meadow sign. 

Spears is concerned about his wife inside of their boutique. He said she is typically alone inside. 

"We do have a lot of people who wander inside, largely harmless, but you never know," Spears said. "Occasionally we do have someone who is a danger." 

Tulsa Police said they have seen an increase in crime calls in the area but they cannot say it is all related to homeless. 

Just last Friday, Vo said they called the city who sent out a security guard to break up the camp but Vo said the group was back the next day. 

The City of Tulsa said they are working with homeless outreach organizations in this case. 

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