Portland, Maine
Tuesday, June 15, 1999
Tension escalates between shop owners,
residents and police in Old Port.
text and photo by John Alphonse
Several police officers respond to a complaint by the Leather Exchange store about a guitar-playing young woman outside their shop. Tension between shop owners, police and those who work, live and socialize in the popular district has been escalating over the past several months.
One individual has been arrested twice for reciting Shakespeare. Others have been harassed and threatened with arrest for trespassing by sitting on shop owners' door steps, although city benches were previously removed at the request of area businesses.
Store owners and police officers believe the shops are losing business because the "looks" of some individuals frightens away potential customers.
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