Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Springfield Ald. Roy Williams (pictured) is frustrated seeing homeless people practically living at former drug stores and dollar stores, with the city seemingly powerless to stop them.

“I don’t know why we as a city, or, I don’t know, maybe as a county, why we can’t do something about it,” said Williams, wondering if aldermen have the power to remove people from these areas.

“I think the homelessness epidemic and the mental health crisis that this country is facing is growing exponentially every day, and we are experiencing this, obviously, here in our own community,” responded police chief Ken Scarlette. “I think the police department walks a tightrope between being a mental health counselor and encouraging someone to get the necessary help that we all see versus utilizing some kind of force to now remove them,” adding the trespassing charge is no more than a “piece of paper.”