Central Columbia residents to discuss economic disparity

Residents in Central Columbia met with city leaders to discuss issues with housing, employment and law enforcement Tuesday night.

Newly-hired citizen “consultants” led the discussion at the Family Impact Center on Ash Street regarding social equity. Last month, during his State of the City address, Columbia city manager Mike Matthes focused on social equity. It’s also a top priority in the city’s 2016-2019 strategic plan.

“Seventy-four percent of residents overall are satisfied that they can thrive in Columbia. Now, the interesting thing-78 percent of white residents feel like they can thrive, but only 54 percent of black residents feel like they can thrive,” Matthes said.

As part of the strategic plan, the city has hired four people to serve on a social equity task force.

Residents told the group at the Family Impact Center their stories involving the Columbia Housing Authority and Columbia Police Department. Many felt staff at CHA dealt with residents rudely when they bring them problems, such as accumulating trash, stray animals or fireworks in the neighborhood.

Others discussed concerns with obtaining records from the Columbia Police Department, and feelings of “harassment” by officers. One woman said police often follow young people recently released from jail, and wait for them to break the law, without giving them a chance to “change their lives.” Many in the room agreed that they had positive interactions with Columbia police officers, but also wanted to know more about what the department has done with officers that break rules or treat people poorly.

One of those task force members, Carl Kenney, believes there are not equal opportunities for blacks and whites in Columbia.

“This is a place, that if you’re black–the primary concern is to get out. It’s not a place where you can thrive in the opinion of those who are black. It’s not a place where you can build a future that’s going to be comparable to the white citizens of this community,” Kenney tells ABC 17 News.

Also in his state of the city address, Matthes said Columbia has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, but the poverty level continues to increase.

“There’s something here in the water in Columbia that we need to discuss….it could be perception among the white residents who have the ability to hire, it could be something different,” Kenney notes.

(Editor’s note, 7/26: This story contains updated information from a previously titled story “Central Columbia residents to discuss economic disparity“)