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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Vandalism. Located in East Bakersfield, Columbus. There’s also one on the west side. It’s also located at the iconic Fox Theater and is definitely downtown. Broken glass, broken doors, bars, and plywood are all part of the growing problem of theft and vandalism at neighborhood businesses.
My Spot Downtown restaurant owner Eddie Zepeta said the problem cost him thousands of dollars.
“I’m probably around $8,000 just from vandalism by someone.”
My Spot Downtown is located in the Haberfelde building, part of Bakersfield’s 100-year history. Now, the building and tenants like Zepeta are forced to split the cost and pay for the broken glass out of their own pockets. Zepeta pays him $3,000 for each broken door.
“The door here on this side of the alley was opened twice. This was the most recent one. It happened just before Christmas,” Zepeta said.
Zepeta says homelessness is to blame and they are changing the way they do business.
“For me, it’s not worth it to be open after 4 or 5 p.m. because there’s an alley and there’s just homeless people coming and going. It’s even worse in the afternoon.”
It’s not just the broken door. Zepeta also says the American Dream is turning into a nightmare as people knock over trash cans.
“We’ll see how the weather changes as they get worse and start doing things like that,” he said.
Bakersfield police have done everything they can, he said. BPD told 17 News all calls are answered on a priority basis and safety comes first.
“I know the police department has a really good program going on right now on how to eliminate homelessness in your area. Be sure to give them a call,” Zepeta said.
Business owner Tracy Walker-Kiser joined other downtown businesses last week, tired of the vandalism, in suing the city of Bakersfield for failing to protect local businesses from theft, vandalism and danger. He said he may file a lawsuit.
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