Crime, better housing on minds of residents
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on June 27, 2007 1:45 PM
Doris Broadie is tired of being afraid.
Drug dealers and gang members are moving onto her block, the self-described "senior citizen" said.
So when she spoke into the microphone at Tuesday's city-sponsored neighborhood meeting, she sent them a message -- loud and slow.
"I don't care where they go," Mrs. Broadie said. "I just want them out of our neighborhood. Out."
A brief thunderstorm was not enough to keep a handful of residents from the blocks surrounding H.V. Brown Park from addressing the Goldsboro City Council members and staff on hand for the event.
Gunshots, fighting in the streets and dilapidated houses in the area were among the concerns voiced by Mrs. Boadie and others.
Frankie Lewis shared several.
But she was more concerned with other residents' plights.
"I have observed homeless walking up and down the streets," she said. "It's hot out there and there is nowhere for these people, our fellow citizens, to get water."
Mrs. Lewis suggested random installation of public water fountains around the city.
Her husband, Carl, had a few suggestions, too.
More "Welcome to Goldsboro" signs are needed along highways leading to town, he said.
Council member Jimmy Bryan represents the residents who attended Tuesday's meeting and all those living in District 1.
He said that despite a small turnout, no comment or concern would be taken lightly.
"We really do take all this back," he said. "We look at these problems, talk about them and see what we can do."
But council member Don Chatman said not even elected officials can take on some problems alone. That, he said, is why the neighborhood meeting concept has worked so well -- it gets the community involved.
"The city government can't solve all these problems by itself," he said. "We need your help. It's going to be a joint effort no matter what the problem is."
Mrs. Broadie agreed.
She encouraged her neighbors to help local law enforcement find the bad seeds on their blocks.
"There's drugs, there's fighting, there's shooting -- everything you can think of is going on," she said. "We do not need these people in that block. If you don't speak up in your own neighborhood, who's going to? I'll tell you who. Nobody."