00:00A traditionally bustling cafe in Melbourne CBD, the famous Pellegrini's has lost some of its buzz.
00:09The most important thing for us goes around safety. If people don't feel safe they don't come in.
00:15Pellegrini's owner David Malaspina says the rising crime and weekly protests are hurting his business with trading down 30%,
00:24while some neighbouring businesses are experiencing losses of up to 50%.
00:29For the years I've been here, I'm not sure how much longer we'll be staying open.
00:35It's had a massive effect on the business. People in the suburbs are scared to come to the city.
00:40Violence erupted on Melbourne's streets on Sunday when protesters at an anti-racism rally clashed with police.
00:48Shocking footage also emerged of a woman stabbed in the chest in broad daylight
00:53and a man with a fake gun was arrested after allegedly threatening people and multiple carjackings.
00:59For me it's heart-wrenching because I get flashbacks and remembrances of what happened seven years ago.
01:05David's father Sisto Malaspina was fatally stabbed near his beloved cafe in 2018.
01:11Recent years of rising crime and violence and ongoing disruption are taking their toll.
01:17There have been the various tragedies, the pandemic. There is a fatigue for the traders.
01:23And each time something happens, it is another blow of, oh, can we keep going through this?
01:29The City of Melbourne says it's investing in more CCTV cameras and will roll out community safety offices to improve security.
01:37It's a move welcomed by traders, but some say more needs to be done.
01:42I think we need leaders with a lot more strength than what we've got.
01:46Really make some rules and regulations and get into it.
01:50Don't talk about it. Don't put it off. Just do it.
01:53We want investment. We want people coming. We want the volume of people back.
01:57Our city is so vibrant when it's full of people.
01:59The Premier and Police Chief have rejected calls for protest permits,
02:04instead looking at other ways of responding to violent offending.
02:08There is more and more people coming into the city.
02:11We know that there is more to do to support and strengthen community safety
02:16and that's why I'm backing the work of Victoria Police.
02:18Businesses are still hoping for change.
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