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Business owners meet with Pueblo officials to discuss crime problem

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PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO)-- Crime is up across Colorado, including in Pueblo. In the last few months, a Pueblo City Councilwoman has said her business was broken into four times.

On Thursday, business owners from across the city met with local officials, trying to figure out how to protect themselves.

At a standing-room-only meeting, Pueblo County District Attorney Jeff Chostner blamed the increase in crime on the legislature in Denver.

"I need some help from the people up north," Chostner told the crowd of business owners. "If we get that, then I think we can start to turn this situation around."

Chostner added he believes criminals are breaking into businesses because they're bonding out of jail too quickly, and said once again, that a new law is to blame for criminals coming to Colorado. He says his hands are tied and he can't keep criminals incarcerated.

One unidentified business owner stood up, looking for more of a solution, and perhaps to influence the crowd to vote differently.

"We all just keep saying the legislature is our problem. It's the legislature. Our hands are tied to the legislators."

At a certain point, the meeting just became a political debate. Pueblo Mayor Nick Gradisar was booed after saying Former President Trump was to blame for police staffing issues that are happening in the city and across the country.

He tried to suggest that the business owners form some sort of alliance, with a neighborhood watch, or business association security group.

"Everybody sort of has to help," Gradisar said.

Police chief Chris Noeller joined Gradisar in urging the business owners to vote to pass ballot measure 2B, which would extend funding to his department. Noeller believes it would help him with staffing and being "proactive" in fighting crime.

But how productive was the meeting? Many in attendance seemed to think not very.

"Productive is the wrong word, business owner Brandon Akers said after. Akers says he's been attacked by a homeless person at a real estate listing he had. 

"People want to feel safe while they're doing their jobs around Pueblo," he added.

Akers is walking away from the meeting like many though. Wondering how it became a political debate and not a way for business owners to protect themselves.

"I was hoping that the mayor could have rallied some of the people, instead of being booed throughout the entire thing."

Article Topic Follows: News
crime
Pueblo

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Spencer Soicher

Spencer is the weekend evening anchor, and a reporter for KRDO. Learn more about him here.

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