ROSE HILL RESIDENT CONTINUES FIGHT FOR SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD

Rhonda Bridges and her family are a little safer than they were last
summer, but they are still afraid of the dangers their neighborhood
poses.

Last June, the Gazette reported Bridges was leading a fight to save
her beloved Rose Hill neighborhood from prostitution, drugs, violence
and abandoned houses.

At the time she said she feared for her family's safety, and that she
was going to start a neighborhood watch program. Since then, she has
rallied for help from neighbors, police and city officials to clean up
the neighborhood.

Seven months later, Bridges says things have improved in the
neighborhood.

"We have had an increase in police patrol," she said Friday. "We have
had a large decrease in prostitution."

Bridges also said there had been a moderate decrease in the once very
visible drug trafficking.

"We still have some drug trafficking, but it's not as open," she said,
noting the remaining threat of a house on Waterall Street. "Before,
they would just do it right in front of you and in front of your house."

For at least four months, Bridges said she hasn't heard gunshots and
there has been a large lien placed against one of the area motels
where prostitution and illegal drugs are rampant.

Bridges said even though things have gotten better, there is the
potential to slide backwards. She said it was great to see people
getting out and taking walks again, the police patrolling regularly
and her kids having fun.

"In the evenings I get to hear the children playing outside again. I
didn't hear that for a long time," she said. "To me, that speaks volumes."

She said there's still a slight problem with prostitution. Some
neighbors have reported being solicited at a nearby convenience store.

Bridges also said one house has been condemned and two others shut
down.

"They're for rent, but nobody will move into them," she
said.

Bridges said some strides also have been made in getting some alleys
cleaned up, a couple of houses demolished and lighting installed.

She asid she would like to have an officially recognized Neighborhood
Watch, but not enough of her neighbors came to join.

"I had no idea Rose Hill was this large," she said.

So Bridges is pinning her hopes on getting recognized as a Weed and
Seed site, like the Beverly area.

Capt. Joe Bunting of the Texarkana, Texas, Police Department, said the
application is in and they are waiting to see if the federal
government will give them funding.

Bunting said Weed and Seed in Rose Hill would offer a lot of help in
crime prevention, overtime for police and controlling firearms.

"Plus the steering committee could designate funds for tearing down
houses, building parks or whatever they wanted to do," he said.

Bunting said they could also use a center for an after-school program,
which has been successful in the Beverly area.

Bridges said getting involved with Weed and Seed has helped her
tremendously. She gives a lot of credit to people like Bunting, former
Texarkana, Texas, U.S. Assistant Attorney Tom Ferraro, Police Chief
Danny Alexander and police Sgt. Stephen Gass, who now patrols in the
Rose Hill area.

Bridges said she and interested neighbors put together a list of
concerns for their community. It includes prostitution, drug-related
crime, homelessness, vacant substandard houses, juvenile curfew
violations, lighting, loud music, vehicular and pedestrian traffic
violations, increased police presence, vandalism and burglaries.

Some of the highlights of their application included the need to clean
up the area (trash, limbs or homes), adequate lighting, a neighborhood
center and a police substation.

Bridges said they also want to help those who turn to crime because
they think they have no other way out. She said she wants to provide
them with clothing, work training, childcare, self-motivation and
self-confidence.

Bridges said she knows they may feel ashamed to come forward for
help.

"We want to make it where they don't feel that way," she
said.

And while she credits some neighbors and nearby churches for getting
involved, Bridges wishes more people would take a stand for the
neighborhood.

"It has really saddened me that I haven't had a better response," she
said.

Bridges would also like the city to get more involved in tearing down
houses, cleaning out drug houses and helping prevent other crime.

Ward 1 council member Derrick McGary sees the need for help in Rose
Hill, which is in his ward, but said, "I think some things take some
time. There are a lot of rules and regulations that have to be
followed," he said in reference to housing demolition. "It's not gonna
be an overnight process."

McGary said he would like to be more involved, but that's what
neighbors are there for-to alert authorties when they see crime or
unusual activity.

"I'd like to do it on a full-time basis," he said. "Sometimes it's
hard to put the hours in."

McGary did say having it recognized as a Weed and Seed site would help
tremendously.

"We need all the help we can get to get funding to do all these
things," he said.

Bridges said she was thankful for the increased police presence. She
said at first she thought she was bugging them when she always called
911. Now she encourages everyone to call the police when they see crime.

"We've got some really good police officers that want to help us, but
they can't help us if we don't call them," she said.

Bridges said she isn't speaking out to get pity.

"I'm just trying to better myself. I'd appreciate my neighbors
standing up and taking a stand with me," she said.