THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 21, 1994 TAG: 9409210446
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
More than 40 residents of one of the city's most crime-ridden neighborhoods agreed Tuesday to turn up the heat on city council members to tackle the drug problem.
In a frank discussion about problems and possible solutions in the Shepard-Cale-Martin neighborhood, black community leaders and citizens called on one another stop talking among themselves and start pressing the people in power.
``The city council's not doing what they should be doing,'' said the Rev. Charles Foster, who lost a bid for the Democratic nomination to the N.C. House of Representatives this spring. ``We have got to put pressure on the city council - all the city council.''
About 15 residents attending an informational meeting of the River City Community Development Corp. agreed to approach the City Council at its Oct. 3 meeting and push for drug-free zone designations, higher police visibility and stronger ordinances.
As cars whizzed down Road Street, blasting stereos that echoed inside the Holy Trinity Community Center, residents talked about the pros and cons of police foot patrols and the importance of getting people involved.
Councilwoman Anita Hummer, a leader in the city and the state in organizing community watch groups, told residents that pressing for such a group in their neighborhood would be a good step toward fighting crime.
``You need to get to know your neighbors and just walk door-to-door,'' Hummer said. ``Calling 911 is the biggest thing.''
Inner-City Forum President Paul Bryant, a frequent participant in government and community meetings, said another key was to follow through with suggestions from the night's meeting.
``You all have to be committed to saying we're going to start here, we're going to start now, and we're going to be here for the long haul,'' Bryant said.
Participants rebuked absent city council members for not attending the meeting. Hummer and Planning Director Victor Sharpe were on hand for the city. Pasquotank Commissioner Zee Lamb, a member of the governor's Crime Commission, also attended. by CNB