THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 7, 1996 TAG: 9608070349
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 70 lines
Residents from from a crime-troubled neighborhood packed City Hall to protest street barricades meant to deter drug traffic and cheered loudly Monday night when the City Council took immediate action in their favor.
By Tuesday morning, the barricades were gone in a portion of Sawyertown in what may be record time for action on a council vote.
``I don't know what time they go to work, but the barricades were gone when I came in at eight this morning,'' said Shawn M. Whidbee, who works at Lillian's Beauty Salon.
Some residents fear that in the interest of pleasing its public, the council may have acted too quickly Monday night.
``There may have been some benefits to the barricades,'' Councilwoman Anita Hummer said Tuesday. ``We kind of got carried away by the crowd.''
Originally, the idea of installing barricades came from the Sawyertown residents, said Police Chief Herman L. Bunch. But no one spoke in support of the barricades Monday night.
``It was something I supported, too,'' Bunch said. ``The barricades were effective in that they restricted drug transactions in motor vehicles.''
He said 50 percent of the drug trade in the area occurs as buyers or dealers pass through in cars. ``Because of the barricades, we were able to track down where the vehicles were going.''
The traffic patterns helped police identify a crack house at the end of Bell Street and after contacting the owner, the tenant was evicted.
``If blockades work then why don't they put them up all over the city or all over the country?'' Lillian Clary asked. Clary runs Lillian's Beauty Salon out of her home on Bell Street. ``It was like the whole community was in a cage. The drug problem was worse.''
Police two weeks ago erected the barricades on Bank, Harney, Grady and Greenleaf streets where they intersect with Bell Street. The neighborhood has long been notorious as a hangout for drug dealers, though most of the residents own well-kept homes.
In early July, the city sent flier to all the neighborhood's residents asking if there were objections to the barricades. Most ignored them, not realizing what they were for.
``People took those fliers and did what all people do when they get junk mail - they threw it away,'' said Clary from the podium at the council chambers Monday night as about 75 of her neighbors murmured in agreement. The crowd filled the council chambers and the hallway outside.
For 45 minutes, several other residents spoke against the barricades while council members silently listened. Isolation and inconvenience were the major complaints. When the barrage of protests were over, Councilman Jimmie Sutton, chairman of the public safety committee, responded.
``I'm going to make a motion that we remove those barricades tomorrow morning,'' he said. The room and hallway erupted in loud clapping and cheering.
``This roadblock woke everybody up,'' said Councilman A.C. Robinson Jr., directing his words toward the audience. ``I commend you.''
Robinson told residents to unify themselves like this to solve the drug problem in the area.
``You can have a policeman on every corner, and it won't solve the problem,'' said Robinson. ``Not until the people take over as they have here tonight.''
Another cheer sounded when the council voted unanimously in favor of Sutton's motion.
Tuesday morning, Clary was glad to see the quick action taken but still upset at the council about crime on her street.
``I'm not done with them yet,'' she said.
It is unlikely that the council will vote to raise barricades again despite advantages cited by police.
``When they come out like that and that's what the people of that community want, then I will adhere to it,'' said Councilwoman Myrtle Rivers. ``The majority rules.'' by CNB