Sugar Creek residents demand action on crime and homelessness

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — More than 300 people in the Sugar Creek neighborhood want change. It’s the second time in two weeks they’ve met to work out ways to crack down on the open prostitution and drug usage, and solutions to homelessness.

“We work and pay taxes here and we want to be protected, too. We’re constituents as well and so we feel bad to folks who are in transition. I’ve been a part of help feed and folks for about 20 years now. This isn’t just about a feed. This is about the safety of our community. We shouldn’t be seeing the things that we’re seeing,” said Executive Director of One Time Inc.

Business owners say it’s hard to maintain customers because they’re fearful of the crime and their safety. Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Captain Demarco Jeter says it’s the number one area in the crime reduction unit — with 12-14 officers dedicated to what police call a “hot area“; the near square mile surrounding the sugar creek intersection.

“Not having an avenue for these people to go and get the assistance that they really need. Then the bottom line is it trickles back into the neighborhoods,” said resident Wayne Bough. 

He’s lived in the neighborhood for decades and has watched it decline. He’s hoping real solutions are presented to help revitalize the area and address the drug zone.

City Council Member Dante Anderson and County Commissioner George Dunlap both say officials are working as hard as they can to fix the problems.

“For the things that the county is responsible for, we are so willing to do our part. And we know that our (inaudible) deals with substance abuse and mental health treatment but as [NAACP President Corine Mack] said everybody doesn’t want help,” Dunlap. He says they have to navigate people who are in that category, along with those who want the help. 

Anderson says the city has added more lights to increase safety and extra surveillance. Officials shut down motels considered neighborhood nuisances, like the Economy Inn, and are currently building affordable townhomes in their places.

“This isn’t a quick fix. If we could fix this thing one day and then go home and everything, be all right. I would rather be at home right now, but we got to get out of here and get outside of our comfort zones and stay involved and see this thing through because this problem didn’t happen overnight,” Robinson said.