Fredericton businesses concerned with rising crime [Video]

If you ask most business owners in downtown Fredericton, they will tell you the issues related to crime, drug use and homelessness have never been a higher.

More than 200 people – many of whom are downtown business owners – shared their views on these issues an event hosted by the City of Fredericton and Fredericton Police Force on Tuesday.

The meeting followed a fire that was deemed arson a week prior at MacTavish’s Source for Sports, and a month after a break and enter at the Fredericton Public Library. Some business owners say they are dealing with similar issues on a daily basis.

“We’re seeing such an increase year over year, month after month, day after day of crime that’s going on in the city,” says Mike Babineau, who owns three restaurants in the city’s downtown core. “The added costs and frustrations that business owners are having with that added cost and the abuse, …