A Texas convenience store owner successfully deters homeless individuals from loitering near his business by playing classical music 24/7, illustrating the need for more effective solutions to the homelessness crisis.
In Austin, Texas, a 7-Eleven convenience store faced significant challenges after a group of homeless individuals set up camp in a nearby vacant lot. The store owner, 52-year-old Jagat Patel, found his customers increasingly frightened by the aggressive panhandling and unsolicited services like window washing offered by the homeless individuals. As customers became reluctant to visit the store, Patel recognized the urgent need to address the situation – a situation that the local authorities seemed unwilling or unable to handle.
Despite reaching out to the Austin Police Department for assistance, Patel found that the officers were incapable of resolving the problem effectively. As a result, he took a proactive approach to protecting his business and customers by implementing an unconventional but effective solution: playing classical music. For the last two weeks, Patel has been broadcasting classical compositions from Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven 24/7, matching the operating hours of his 7-Eleven store.
This innovative strategy has proven successful in driving away the homeless population that had been loitering around his store. As a result, employees have observed a noticeable decrease in the number of homeless individuals in the area. Moreover, customers now feel more comfortable visiting the store, particularly during nighttime hours when the homeless presence had been most intimidating.
The use of classical music to deter the homeless is indicative of a larger problem – the failure of liberal policies to address the homelessness crisis. Patel, who owns three 7-Eleven franchises in Austin, understands that his solution may make life more difficult for these already disadvantaged individuals. However, he must prioritize the protection of his business, which he refers to as his “bread and butter.”
The notion of employing music as a deterrent against the homeless is not novel. In 2018, a Rite Aid pharmacy in Los Angeles played Barry Manilow to discourage homeless individuals from congregating nearby. In West Palm Beach, Florida, city officials used the children’s songs “Raining Tacos” and “Baby Shark” to prevent people from sleeping in the city’s waterfront park.
Patel’s decision to use classical music as a deterrent highlights the inadequacies of liberal policies in addressing the homelessness crisis. When the local authorities failed to provide assistance, Patel took matters into his own hands to protect his livelihood and customers. His pragmatic approach demonstrates that sometimes unconventional methods may be necessary to confront the challenges posed by liberal policy failures.
As Patel told KTBC, “Studies have shown that the classical music is annoying. Opera is annoying, and I’m assuming they are correct because it’s working.” His decision to use classical music to protect his business and customers underscores the need for more effective solutions to the homelessness crisis, rather than relying on the failed policies of the left.
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Source: AWM
