Community cleanup seeks to help neighbors take control of streets after homicide

'We want to be part of changing it and changing the dynamic of the neighborhood'

'We want to be part of changing it and changing the dynamic of the neighborhood'

TOM. YEAH. LAURIE. THIS COMES AFTER A HOMICIDE EARLIER. THIS MONTH. THERE WAS AN ARREST IN THAT CASE, WHICH HAPPENED AT A CONVENIENCE STORE NEARBY. BUT A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE OUT HERE TODAY. IN FACT, IN THE AREA RIGHT BEHIND ME, THEY WERE CLEANING UP, TRYING TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT IF THEY’RE COMING HERE TO DO HARM OR DO SOME KIND OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, WELL, THEY WILL BE WATCHED. BRANCHES, TRASH AND OTHER DEBRIS ARE THROWN INTO A DUMPSTER WHILE WEED WHACKERS AND LAWN MOWERS CUT DOWN HIGH GRASS AND OVERGROWN WEEDS. THIS RANDOM SHOOTING, THIS GO BY POW POW POW. BARBARA BRYCE WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE CLEANUP EFFORTS NEAR HER HOUSE. SHE SAYS VACANT AND BLIGHTED PROPERTIES HAVE INVITED DRUG USE, SQUATTING AND SHOOTINGS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. MY GRANDSON THAT JUST WENT IN THE HOUSE, HE SAID. GRANDMA, YOU GOT A BULLET HOLE IN THE WALL. SO HARRISBURG COUNCILMAN LAMONT JONES HELPED ORGANIZE THE CLEANUP. HE SAID HE’D LIKE TO SEE MORE CAMERAS AND LIGHTS IN THE AREA. THERE’S CRIMES THAT GO ON BACK HERE. WE HAVE TO, LIKE SOME OF OUR CHILDREN, TAKE SHORTCUTS AND COME THROUGH THIS. SO THAT’S DANGER, YOU KNOW, AND THAT’S, TO ME IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. IT BRINGS THE PRIDE BACK. A LOT OF LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY DON’T EVEN FREQUENT THIS AREA BECAUSE OF WHAT GOES ON AROUND HERE. THEN IT’D BE NICE IF WE COULD GET A COMMUNITY. PEOPLE IN A COMMUNITY TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER. BRYCE SAID SHE’D LIKE TO SEE MORE POLICE PRESENCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT TIMES TO TRY AND PREVENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY FROM HAPPENING IN THIS AREA. WE ALSO TALKED WITH COUNCILMAN JONES ABOUT WHAT HE WANTS TO SEE HAPPEN HERE. HE SAID HE’D LIKE TO SEE MORE BEING DONE WITH THE COURTS TO TRY AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR BLIGHTED PROPERTIES THAT HAVE A LOT OF CODE VIOLATIONS IN

Community cleanup seeks to help neighbors take control of streets after homicide

'We want to be part of changing it and changing the dynamic of the neighborhood'

After a homicide served as the latest example of violent crime touching a neighborhood in Harrisburg, local groups and Uptown residents on Monday sought to clear out and clean up their community and shed light on illegal activity that may be taking place.The cleanup took place in the neighborhood surrounding 6th and Woodbine streets in the city, where a homicide took place in broad daylight on May 3.An arrest was made in the case, though organizers of the cleanup said crime in the area continues to be enabled by high grass, poor lighting, and trash or illegal dumping.“We want to be part of changing it and changing the dynamic of the neighborhood, changing the spirit of the neighborhood around here, that’s all,” said Richard Brown, CEO of Men United Standing Together.The cleanup began around lunchtime in the area behind homes near 6th and Woodbine and saw volunteers with local groups fill up a dumpster with trash, branches, and tires that were found in the area. The sound of weed-whackers and lawnmowers could be heard as the cleanup occurred.Harrisburg Councilman Lamont Jones, who helped organize the effort, said he would like to see more cameras and lights in the area. “There’s crimes that go on back here and some of our children come back here and take shortcuts and to me that is a public safety issue,” Jones said.

HARRISBURG, Pa. —

The cleanup took place in the neighborhood surrounding 6th and Woodbine streets in the city, where a homicide took place in broad daylight on May 3.

An arrest was made in the case, though organizers of the cleanup said crime in the area continues to be enabled by high grass, poor lighting, and trash or illegal dumping.

“We want to be part of changing it and changing the dynamic of the neighborhood, changing the spirit of the neighborhood around here, that’s all,” said Richard Brown, CEO of Men United Standing Together.

The cleanup began around lunchtime in the area behind homes near 6th and Woodbine and saw volunteers with local groups fill up a dumpster with trash, branches, and tires that were found in the area. The sound of weed-whackers and lawnmowers could be heard as the cleanup occurred.

Harrisburg Councilman Lamont Jones, who helped organize the effort, said he would like to see more cameras and lights in the area.

“There’s crimes that go on back here and some of our children come back here and take shortcuts and to me that is a public safety issue,” Jones said.

Community cleanup seeks to help neighbors take control of streets after homicide

'We want to be part of changing it and changing the dynamic of the neighborhood'

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