Downtown Fort Smith leaders continue to look for ways to address vagrancy. And by extension, panhandling.
The issue of vagrancy has been brought up consistently at the monthly Central Business Improvement District meetings throughout the fall, with leaders stating these issues impact the safety and attractiveness of downtown Fort Smith for patrons and tenants. While measures such as signage and a heightened police presence have been taken to discourage vagrancy on private property, CBID commissioners, downtown property owners and Police Chief Danny Baker are looking at other ways to address the issue while maintaining the difference between vagrants and the homeless in the area.