A man who lives and plays his music in downtown St. John’s says he has seen it all when it comes to vagrancy, drugs and needles.

Mayor Danny Breen has taken things to another level, calling on the two higher levels of government to collaborate with the city and make a serious effort to address what he sees as a growing problem, one which has become a public safety concern.

Jeff Winsor says he has a front row seat to the scene but he’s not convinced that a greater police presence would get people off the street for any length of time.

He told VOCM Open Line with Brian Callahan that we have what amounts to a “catch and release” system of justice that puts offenders back on the street in relatively short order.

“I think a lot of these people are beyond the grasp of help. I see some people who have been out scuffing the streets and on drugs for years.”