- April 26, 2024
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Richardson Drive leader: Why has this been ‘swept under the rug?’
Robert Frost wrote, “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall.” But based on the applause from the residents who live near Ralph Carter Park, something in the R-section does love a wall.
After Neighborhood Watch leader Marion Petruzzi explained some of the concerns about Ralph Carter Park hooligans trespassing and stealing from their homes on Richardson Drive, City Council member Frank Meeker said that even though an 8-foot chain-link fence might not fix the problem, it was just about the only thing the city could do, and so he favored the measure.
Petruzzi, who had taken her seat next to about a dozen other R-section residents Tuesday, April 5, at the City Council meeting, led a round of applause and shouted, “Common sense! Common sense!”
In her remarks, Petruzzi said the residents had done everything asked of them, including posting signs and calling the Sheriff’s Office when trouble arose, but nothing had worked. She said residents do not feel safe near the park.
“Let me ask you all,” she said to the City Council, “would any of you like to live in our neighborhood?”
She added: “We residents want to know why our issue continues to be swept under the rug?”
Another resident said her grandchild went to the bathroom in the park facilities and saw people rolling joints. Another said the young people at the park are not being held accountable.
Mayor Jon Netts appeared frustrated that solutions to the problems that have been suggested in past City Council meetings had still not been fully explored.
“We need to get some answers to these questions, sooner rather than later,” Netts said.
City Manager Jim Landon admitted to having overlooked a suggestion to compare issues at Ralph Carter with those at Holland Park. In the past, he has opposed erecting a fence, saying it would not solve the problem but would only cost more money.
He added: “There’s no question that we have a problem at Ralph Carter Park. I don’t think anybody has ever said we don’t. The question is how do we solve (it)?”
Netts said, “I would like to suggest that at our next workshop, or certainly the next after that, we convene at Richardson Drive, and let council take a look at this first hand.”
Landon responded that he was already planning a meeting at Rymfire Elementary School — potentially on April 27 — to further discuss the issue.
“It’s something the neighborhood, the city and law enforcement all have to work together to do,” he said.
