Group seeks action on crime hot spots
A coalition of community groups is asking Rome to help them redirect young people who sell drugs and gamble in their neighborhoods.
A coalition of churches and community groups is asking Rome officials to help them eliminate “hot spots” of drug sales and gambling in their neighborhoods.
“I have talked to many elders in the community who are fearful of even being outside their home in the yard … (and) children coming home from school are exposed to this kind of activity,” the Rev. Carey Ingram told members of the Public Safety Committee Tuesday.
About 20 representatives of six organizations came armed with suggestions — starting with increased police presence where young men and women congregate on street corners and around abandoned buildings.
Ingram, who served as the spokesman, said the organizations have been holding prayer marches through “hot spot” areas to disrupt the gatherings, but the peace doesn’t last.
“It’s time to do something more,” he said. “We’re not Twickenham. We don’t have a lot of money where we live, but we’re people, too, and we deserve clean and safe neighborhoods.”
A major stumbling block is the lack of other options, said Charles Love, co-chair of the North Rome Community Action Committee.
“The drug issue is an economic issue,” he said. “When a 14-yearold brings home $300 to pay the rent, his parents know where it comes from, but they don’t have options either.”
Clemontene Slack said they’re trying to run a youth basketball league based in the old Anna K. Davie gymnasium, but Rome City Schools’ rules prohibit regular use by individuals. She asked if
the city could take it over and open it to the group.
“We have people who will monitor it and act as mentors. We have people who will take care of the liability insurance,” Slack said. “We need to get students involved in something and that gym is available.”
Other members of the coalition are the South Rome Community Association, Covenant Kingdom Pastors, One Community United, 100 Black Men of Rome-Northwest Georgia and Rome-Floyd County NAACP.
Commissioner Sue Lee, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, said she would put the issue on the City Commission’s agenda for discussion at its next meeting.
“We hear you,” she assured the group.
City Commissioner Craig McDaniel said the current drug problem in Georgia is straining public resources. He connected it with the closing of state mental institutions that put people with behavioral problems on the street.
“It’s a societal issue,” he said, adding that local
schools report 800 students classified as homeless and 400 are in foster care.
McDaniel also suggested they encourage the creation of a college and career academy or technical job-training program at Rome High. Superintendent Lou Byars has said he’d like to add a building to, among other things, house courses such as culinary arts, robotics and welding.
“I think there are young people who, if they had other opportunities,
would choose the right path,” McDaniel said.
During her report to the committee, Police Chief Denise Downer-McKinney said the joint Metro Task Force has recently been revived from one officer to a full strength of six.
Assistant Chief Debbie Burnett said drug arrests already have gone up and she expects more as the task force is able to beef up surveillance.
“It’s a new unit, fresh blood,” Burnett told the committee.