June 4, 2009 — The residents of Queen Louise Home for the Aged loved to pass the time sitting outside, watching people come and go in their Hospital Ground neighborhood. All of that changed, though, after two vehicles pulled up in front of their building and engaged in a shootout. Less than a week later, it happened again.
Chris Finch, commissioner of the Department of Human Services, along with his staff, invited residents and proprietors of Hospital Ground to participate Thursday in the first of several community involvement meetings to address the safety and security of the Hospital Ground area.
Concerned about the growth of crime and violence in the area, Finch realized there were two key elements missing.
“ Government agencies and non-profits were not talking to each other about how to reduce crime and violence in the area,” he said. “More importantly, they were not talking to the people in the neighborhood.”
Newly appointed Police Commissioner Novelle Francis Jr. was on hand to assure residents that he “is committed to tackling the issue of crime and violence head on.” He discussed some of the initiatives being put into place, including six months of foot or bike patrol for new members of the police force. (See "Novelle Francis Named New Police Commissioner.") He stressed the importance of working together as a community to fight this upsurge in crime. According to Francis, “The more guns we take, the more seem to surface.”
Ernie Pennyfeather, director of Residential Facilities at Queen Louise, addressed Francis and the crowd. “I do not want to keep the residents cooped up inside but now it’s not safe,” she said. “And it’s not just in Hospital Ground, it’s everywhere.”
Deputy Commissioner Dr. Phyllis Wallace from the Department of Health was excited to see the turnout of at least thirty people and revealed plans to renovate Knud Hansen to better serve the community, along with plans to revitalize the entire area.
Residents had many suggestions for ways to improve the Hospital Ground area. Stephanie Scott-Williams would like to see community gardens, adding, "Get the young people actively involved. If I physically put up a fence and paint it myself, I’m not going to turn around the next day and cover it with graffiti."
Michal Rhymer, assistant commissioner of Human Services, excited the audience when she called on the community to stand up to crime.
“We need to take back Hospital Ground. Instead of the five with the guns hanging out on the corner, let it be five hundred of us in full force saying, 'We are stronger than you and we are taking back this community!'"
Finch asked those in attendance to spread the word to neighbors, friends and family members to encourage greater attendance and involvement. The next community involvement meeting is schedule for 6 p.m. July 9 at the STRIVE Senior Center of the Human Service complex.
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