HOUSING PROJECTS NEED POLICE PRESENCE AND HARD RULES

While I commend Asheville City Council's concern for looking toward a long-term solution to the problems of drug dealing in housing projects, what about now? My wife is a home health nurse and I have accompanied her on occasion into several of the housing projects.  I was appalled at what I saw and didn't see.  What I saw was open drug dealing and prostitution; what I didn't see was a police presence. 

The council's one-sided approach to the problem abandons the present to more of the same problems and dangers in the short term.  I believe that the city should have taken a multifaceted approach.  Not only do they need the programs the council approved, but they need an increased police presence along with increased enforcement.  Each housing project needs a community police sub-station and officers assigned there on a daily basis to get to know the problems and problem makers. 

When a resident is arrested for a drug, prostitution or violence-related offense and convicted, they should be evicted and issued a trespass warning for all city housing projects.  At the same time, computer and learning labs should be set up to offer the residents, both young and older, a chance to learn and occupy their time. 

Ron Pownall,

Black Mountain