On Monday, October 3, 2011, the Central City Citizens advanced their mission of improving their neighborhood to provide families with a safe environment to both live and be proud.  Residents of Central City Citizens met with Mayor Michael P. Bell and many members of his staff (Deputy Chief of Police, Deputy Mayors, Directors, etc.) at the JB Simmons Building/Frederick Douglass Community Association.

Renee Palacios, Executive Director of The Family House (Shelter) provided a testimony about a recent event in front of the shelter involving the safety of several current residents.  She along with many other residents challenged the Mayor and Deputy Chief Diggs (newly appointed Chief of Police effective 10/22) to improve police response time and overall police presence within Toledo’s Central City. Local resident Elizabeth Gray gave testimony of a nearby abandoned property (1154 Indiana) which is a great concern to her. She shared how this property has been a great nuisance for over 10 years. It has recently even become a health issue as there is mold both on the outside and inside of the structure. Ms. Gray, along with Mr. Oscar Hill, asked that this structure be identified as an emergency demolition.

Other CCC leaders, Quintin Newton and Willie Watts (and other residents in the audience) cited the lack of attention being shown towards the many vacant properties and alleys within this neighborhood. They requested a full sweep of the neighborhood to clean up the alleys and vacant properties that have overgrown brush and garbage (resulting from illegal dumping).

Mayor Bell (and his staff) committed to the following:

  • Mayor Bell and newly appointed Chief Derrick Diggs agreed to meet with Central City Citizens by November 4th to focus on neighborhood violence and safety issues.
  • (Deputy) Chief Diggs also committed to meeting privately with individual residents as requested in order to deal with highly sensitive safety issues. He provided his phone number for follow-up.
  • Mayor Bell and (Deputy) Chief Diggs agreed to review Police response time issues to see where improvements can be made.
  • Mayor Bell and Ed Moore, Director for Public Service agreed to clear brush and debris as well as repair all alleys in CCC’s geographic territory (map provided) by October 31st. Director Moore also agreed to return for a follow-up meeting AFTER this has been completed.
  • Mayor Bell and Deputy Mayor Herwat agreed to the demolition of 1154 Indiana by the end of October.
  • Mayor Bell agreed to schedule a meeting with Housing Court Judge C. Allen McConnell and neighborhood residents to discuss potential changes to vacant property laws for Toledo. Mayor Bell agreed that the laws are not currently sufficient for resolving abandoned property issues.

If you are interested in finding more information about the Central City Citizens and their organizing efforts in Toledo contact James L. Jones at 419.464.9885 or check out ESOP at esop-cleveland.org

 

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