Salem businesses express concerns for downtown

By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- Representatives for Salem's business community say they'll meet with city officials next week to discuss crime and blight.
Audrey Null, director of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber is concerned about vandalism, graffiti and weeds in the city's decorative areas.
"We care about Salem, we love Salem, and we want to see Salem stay Salem," Null said. "We don't want to see big-city problems moving in."
In recent weeks, large windows were smashed at two downtown stores.
Graffiti has been sprayed on some downtown buildings and those in the shopping district on the city's east side. A large trash bin was set on fire behind one business on the east side.
Police on Thursday night arrested a man for urinating in the doorway of a South Broadway Avenue business in the heart of the downtown.
Chamber's goals
Null said she will be talking with Mayor Larry DeJane during conversation about the city's upcoming Heritage Day, which will include a parade.
She said she is going with the attitude of "What can we do to help?"
Gary Abrams, president of the Salem Retail and Business Association, said the effort is designed to nip problems in the bud. He asked people report any crimes they see to police.
The chamber is also trying to get judges in Columbiana County's area court system to have people sentenced to do community service help clean the downtown.
Salem has many landscaped areas, but many are choked with weeds. The city has cleaned weeds from some of the areas.
Null said the city has told her it does not have the money for weed control.
DeJane couldn't be reached for comment.
wilkinson@vindy.com