Potter watch group discusses crime, abandoned houses

The Potter Longway Neighborhood Association June 21 discussed crime, abandoned houses and Longway Park.

John Bednarski, co-founder of the group, summed up the group's goals.

"We've changed our name from the Potter Crime Watch to Potter Longway Neighborhood Association because we've changed our attitude. We want to bring people in who will stand up with us — not just to deter crime, but to promote our area, its organizations, churches and parks," he said.

Rhoda Matthews, Flint citizen services director, spoke to the group about crime.

"Public safety is our first priority," she said. "Keep working with the mayor's office and his administration."

Matthews distributed information on Blue Badge training sessions — the crime fighting program sponsored by the city — giving dates and times for mini-station volunteer and crime watch training.

"We're asking residents to be the eyes and ears for the Flint police," Matthews said.  We need all the help we can get when it comes to making our community safe."

Matthews explained that mini-station volunteers take complaints such as nuisance calls, suspected drug activity and abandoned vehicles.

She said the city administration is looking for grants to pay for more police officers.

One member offered the group some practical advice.

"The key is to be involved with your neighbors. Get to know which cars belong in your neighbor's driveways, and find out when your neighbors will be away," he said.

Co-founder of the group, Rob Gil, asked how many homes in the neighborhood are rentals, said about 65 percent of the homes are owner-occupied.

Gill pointed to a map of the neighborhood that indicated which houses are owned by the Genesee County Land Bank — about 25 houses.

"We have problems with vacant homes where lawns are not mowed," Gill continued. "We want our members to help us do a survey of their area. We need volunteers to cut lawns and pick up trash on these vacant properties. If they're owned by the Land Bank we will notify them."

The association is also concerned with the 28-acre Robert T. Longway Park. Gill mentioned that neighborhood churches could be involved in the adopt-a-park program or volunteers could get together and maintain it.

A member of the Eastwood United Methodist Church, 3312 Whittier, offered to help the group.

"We're here to help in the neighborhood. We planted a community garden where people who need food can come and pick it. Our church is open to be a host of your meetings too," he said.

Gill explained that the current site's meeting room in Flint Fire Station Number Five is small and that he would notify all attendees if the meeting place was changed.

In other action, the group is planning a neighborhood cleanup and a block party in the summer or early fall.