Ward 1 residents shared concerns about crime, litter and blighted properties Thursday during the fourth and final listening tour meeting with elected officials and municipal employees.
About 40 people came to Lakeside United Methodist Church and shared concerns with Pine Bluff Mayor Debe Hollingsworth, Alderman Lloyd Holcomb Jr. of Ward 1, Alderman Bill Brumett of Ward 3 and Alderman Glen Brown Jr. of Ward 2. Alderwoman Thelma Walker of Ward 1 was absent. Hollingsworth said she will answer their concerns in detail at a later date.
Miller Lafitte said there are trains making too much noise. He said that people visit his neighborhood and cannot believe anyone can live under those circumstances. He said there is too much crime in his neighborhood.
“It is sad that we cannot have a meeting because of crime occurring on that street,” Lafitte said. “Out-of-town people will not come to this neighborhood.”
Hollingsworth asked what kind of crime. Lafitte said that people are asking for money. He asked for an undercover police officer to patrol and suggested that he or she would witness more serious crimes.
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Etoyle Mouser said her house was broken into two weeks ago and someone stole a television set. She asked police officers to follow up so she knows if anyone was arrested in connection with the crime.
Pine Bluff Deputy Police Chief Susie Powell told Mouser that she will have a lieutenant call her on Friday.
Emma Lafitte said she is president of the Third Avenue Neighborhood Watch Association and she sees trash in the neighborhood.
Powell told the residents that the police department is now responsible for enforcing laws governing blight. She asked people to call 870-730-2021 to report code enforcement problems.
She said that officers responded to the Linden Apartment Complex to investigate excessive garbage and found that dogs were knocking over garbage cans.
“You deserve a better community and I will do my part to see it gets done,” Powell said.
Somer Pridgeon said she and her husband own a home near the Broadmoor Apartments. She sees neighbors with abandoned cars and tall grass. She asked the police to issue tickets to these people.
Powell said that the department had an inspector who died. The department has since hired a new person to enforce those ordinances.
“If it does not rain tomorrow, we will come to your neighborhood,” Powell said. “I believe that we need to make our younger folks care about their community. … [The solution is] to take ownership of the problem rather than being part of the problem.”
John Smithey said there is a problem with litter near Broadmoor Elementary School and this hurts the quality of life. The garbage blows around the yards.
Hollingsworth told residents to log onto the city website to report potholes and other problems.