Residents from Ward 3 are begging city leaders to do something about the crime, drug deals and lack of respect from a group of troublemakers in their neighborhoods.
Ward 3 Alderman Gregory Robertson asked two of his constituents to appear before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s Monday meeting to shed some light on an issue he brought up in an earlier meeting.
Robertson said the two residents are only a small percentage of residents who are tired of being afraid in their own neighborhoods.
“A lot of residents are afraid to come forward,” Robertson said.
The area of concern ranges from West Second Street to First Street, from Maynie Avenue to Charles Avenue. Robertson said the entire area has many residents on edge with a number of people unabashed by their often criminal and disrespectful actions.
One resident said she is having problems with the noise, often in the late hours, from her neighbors.
“It’s loud, loud music that will start early in the evening and go on until early in the morning,” she said. “I call the police, and they will come out. But they will say sometimes they won’t hear anything. I think they (the noisy neighbors) have scanners, and when they hear the (police) coming on the scanners, they cut it down.”
Many landlords in the area are not checking in with their tenants, the resident said.
“The residents in the area are having to deal with the fallout with what is happening...” she said. “A lot of us are intimidated because so much is happening.”
The resident said there was a recent machete fight and other loud disruptions.
“I have to get up in the morning, and some Saturday nights, I don’t get any sleep,” she said. “I go to church, and I need to get up early. If I am up all night because they are disturbing the peace...”
The resident said she would like to see the officers patrol the area more and make their presence known in the area.
“I just don’t know what to do,” she said. “I thought I would just some here and bring it to your attention so that maybe you can do something about it.”
Another resident appeared before the city council with the same concerns, in the same area.
He said the drug traffic in the area has increased over the years.
“People are afraid,” he said. “I have been threatened because I complain to the police. But I am going to keep on complaining until something is done. We are tired of it.”
The resident said many people who complain about the problems in the area are cursed when they walk the streets. Some have even been told they “would go missing” if they complained again.
“Everybody in my neighborhood is old,” he said. “And they should respect their elders, but they don’t.”
He also said many residents are afraid to come forward so he decided to stand up for them by coming to the city council.
The resident said he has made numerous complaints to the police, but something needs to be done. He also said he has been targeted.
“But I am not worried,” he said. “God has got me covered.”
Mayor Diane Delaware said the city council will get with the police department on what measures can be done to deter the recent activities. She also asked the residents at the meeting to personally contact her.
