Public safety dominates East Court group agenda

Public safety layoffs, a crime watch and communication barriers between the Flint City Council and the Mayor's Office dominated the College Cultural Neighborhood Association (CCNA) meeting March 18 and forced the assembly into overtime.

Raul Garcia, president of the firefighters union, spoke to the group. He said in 2003 Flint had 133 firefighters. As of March 25 the city will trim that number to 65 leaving 12 to 14 firefighters on any given day to respond to Flint's 100,000 population.

According to Garcia, closing two of Flint's five fire stations boosts response time for firefighters to get to the scene.

"The mayor and his administration need to come up with a plan to give us support," Garcia said.

CCNA Vice-President Mike Keeler introduced a proposal for the association to organize a crime watch for the 1,490 households in the neighborhood.

"If the mayor enacts these drastic police and fire personal cuts it might galvanize some people into action," he said.

After discussion, the group decided to hold another meeting within a month to discuss ideas and organizing options.

"We want you to come back here with ideas to make this proposal fit our neighborhood," Keeler said.

The group identified Richert Manor as a crime source. The 120-unit public housing facility at 902 E. Court St. previously served the elderly. But because of recent government regulations it accepts drug addicts and alcoholics.

According to Norma Sain, executive director of the Court Street Village, 700 E. Court St., the residents of the facility are not  the primary criminal perpetrators. Rather, she said, their visitors bring crime into the area.

Councilman Dale Weighill (7^th Ward) confirmed the city's $8 million budget shortfall - the reason for the reduction in public safety personnel.

"It is the mayor who is doing this," he said. "The council is not part of the negotiations and the mayor is not communicating. I learned about the layoffs from the news media," said Weighill.

Association members voiced questions and concerns to Weighill.

"I'm appalled at the lack of communication. You are our eyes and ears and you are not being told. We have a crisis in confidence with our mayor," said one member.

"If I had been mayor I wouldn't have hired so many staff.  Public safety is a huge priority for me," Weighill said.