After hearing about Salemtown's crime spree, a friend from Hope Gardens sent me word that residents living at the intersection of Warren and Jackson Streets have just suffered their second break-in in a month. Their alarm scared off the burglars, who kicked in their back door, but the family dog is now missing. In fact, three different homes on Warren Street have been burglarized.
Drug trafficking, which has been a problem along 11th Avenue, North in the past seems to be increasing. Hope Gardens leaders report numerous cars with tinted windows and temporary tags exchanging drugs. One neighbor reports that she lives in constant fear of the dealers on 11th. She refuses to attend neighborhood meetings because she thinks that they may retaliate against her if they find out she goes.
It sounds like Metro Police need to start paying more attention and sending more patrols to the North End.
Come now, Mike. If they sent you more cops, some of those cops might be needed at night and so they might have to drive by or, heaven forbid, through the park and you know there can't be a police presence in the park after dark.
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail on the head, B. And I think that there is a connection between these crimes that happen across the North End community. There is obviously a feeling of greater latitude and desparation among the criminal element here and unless both the state (which owns not just Bi-Mall, but also most of the land around it) and Metro focus in concert on these neighborhoods, then things will get worse.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I just saw the 4th police cruiser drive by since I got home from work earlier this evening, so at least Metro is responding to our concerns. Now if we can get Governor Bredesen to secure things on his end, we'll be alright.