Neighbors talk problems, solutions in north Columbia

North side residents gave their opinions Tuesday night, as Columbia city leaders continue to gather information as part of its strategic plan.

Around three dozen people attended the meeting at Derby Ridge Elementary School. Trash, childcare and public safety all came up as topics, but many agreed that their neighborhood was isolated from many helpful resources.

The area, between Rangeline Street to the west, Smiley Lane to the south, Mexico Gravel Road to the east and Prathersville Rd. to the north, has seen some recent investment. The city bought land on Rangeline and International Drive for a new municipal service center, which will include the police department’s new patrol headquarters. Just across the street, CenterPointe Health plans to build a 72-bed psychiatric hospital, with both inpatient and outpatient help for children, teens and adults.

The various neighborhoods there also see spates of violent crime. Columbia police’s Community Outreach Unit has two dedicated officers to meet with people in the area to reduce it – a unit ABC 17 News has highlighted before.

Jim Whitt, a businessman and chair of the Columbia Board of Education, led the meeting. He is one of several “consultants” the city hired to work on its strategic plan, which focuses on employment, public safety and social equity. Whitt has worked on the employment side, looking at ways to market open jobs, empower others to start companies in town and advocate for local businesses to earn government contracts. While Columbia’s citywide unemployment rate stands just over four percent, the unemployment rate of racial minorities in town sits at more than 15 percent.

“So somewhere, we’re missing the boat here in Columbia,” Whitt told ABC 17 News.

Many cited a lack of resources for some members of the community – especially those unemployed. The lack of a nearby food pantry creates uncertainty for many, one woman said, and a lack of “common space” makes it harder to find, or provide, help to those in need.

Residents acknowledged the fear they felt during a string of shootings in 2015, but also said they noticed much fewer incidents of gun violence in the nine months of 2016. One person credited the work of Glenn Cobbins, Sr., another consultant working on the strategic plan, for working with those directly involved in ending “beefs” in the neighborhood. Parents in the audience, some with their children by their side, said the neighborhood’s one park – Auburn Hills Park – was too far away for many parents to feel comfortable letting their kids go.

A few also highlighted problems with trash. One woman who lives on Bodie Drive said the Friday trash collection often leaves pieces behind, meaning she had to re-collect the trash around her house to avoid a city citation for litter.

Whitt said he eventually hoped to connect residents there to jobs, and help many get out of poverty.

“So we’re looking at how we can break those barriers down, how we can get more minority and women-owned businesses to compete for various contracts and things like that,” Whitt said.