Fort Wayne's downtown momentum has come to a halt because residents fear being accosted by someone living on the streets, two City Council members said today.

"The perception is that downtown is no longer safe," said Russ Jehl, R-2nd.

Jehl and Scott Myers, R-4th, are pushing for elected officials, business owners and community residents to work together to adopt an approach to the city's homelessness problem.

Jehl acknowledged that "a lot of public money" might be needed to enact whatever path they pursue. And agreeing on an approach, he said, will likely be a long process.

Meeting with members of the media today, Jehl listed three potential approaches: do nothing, be "very sympathetic" to people's situations or "get tough and get stern."

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