CITY OF NO BROTHERLY LOVE: Bizman slams city's failing systems after his restaurant was vandalized thrice
WALNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA: With crime rates increasing by the day in the country, it seems that businesses have also been affected greatly by the damage caused in the wake of such events. A lot of crimes cause collateral damage, which could mean life or death to a lot of business owners. They may or may not be able to claim damages at these times, which could weaken their establishments.
One such business owner is Dave Magrogan, a restauranteur who owns the Barra Rossa Ristorante in Walnut Street, Philadelphia. In an interview to FOX News, Magrogan said that his restaurant has sustained damages worth $7,500 after being vandalized thrice in the past two years.
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This time, vandals had smashed his restaurant window. Magrogan said that the attacker came into the vestibule and damaged some of the vases. They called the police almost immediately but he claimed that they never showed up, despite waiting six hours for them. The attacker was never caught and He attributed this to the understaffing of police stations, as they cannot seem to spare men for a lot of cases at the same time. He lamented how major crimes were given more priority, and even those weren’t handled properly anymore. He added that there was no way that quality-of-life crimes, which affect the livelihood of society and considered minor crimes, would be given their due.
"As the windows of my restaurant were shattered on Sunday night [October 16], I realized like many of the citizens of Philadelphia there will be no justice in this case. There will be no real investigation and nobody will be held accountable. The resources of the police department are razor-thin and a smashed window is not a priority," he told FOX News.
He said that business owners just learn to pay for the damages, fix up what was lost and, hopefully, get a police report filed. However, he seems to think that at this point, the citizens of Philadelphia have learnt to live with such happenings and that they have accepted it as a way of life.
"This is how a city falls. A smashed window becomes acceptable and part of life. Next, it’s a stolen car or a home burglary. Eventually, violent crimes, gunshots, and carjackings become an acceptable risk to living in the city. Walking around a corner and being mugged or beaten is now more of a concern than ever for tourists and citizens," Magrogan said.
Magrogan stated that this helplessness was not new, but it could not be tolerated on a daily basis. He called for a strong overhaul of leadership that can buckle down on crime and provide a safe environment for the public - a basic necessity for all civilians.
"One of the fundamental responsibilities of city government to the taxpayers is to provide a safe and secure environment in our neighborhoods, schools, and business communities. If a citizen makes a decision to purchase a home, rent an apartment, or open a business they should feel confident their investment will be safe and protected by the law," Magrogan told the outlet.
"If there are no protections for people or property, why should someone choose to invest and commit to being part of the fabric of the community? Basic protections are the fundamental responsibility of our city government. They have failed in this endeavor and it is time for a dramatic change in leadership," he said.