Forum to end violence calls for community partnership - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Forum to end violence calls for partnership

Enough is enough.  It's something Old West End neighbors and their leaders can agree on.  They met on Thursday night to talk about ongoing problems like illegal dumping, abandoned property and the inexcusable violence.

"It's not about the confines of the Historical District, this is about our neighborhood in general," says Sarah Haynes who heads up security in her West End neighborhood. 

"We need every  single community member to be involved in spreading the message," says Sgt. Anita Madison. "And the message is: we're not going to tolerate the violence anymore, it has to stop."

Mayor Mike Bell believes the involvement of parents, pastors and other neighbors is just as important as police enforcement.  He hopes to get more than 600 cops on the streets, but says it won't make a difference if the community mindset doesn't change.

"It is about the community stepping up and being a part of the solution compared to expecting the government to handle all of it,"says Bell. 

Residents still want to see more neighborhood patrols and faster response times, but say this is a good start.  They know it's a city-wide effort, stretching from downtown to down the street. 

"I really believe that if we all pull in the same direction that we can move this community and this neighborhood forward," says Pastor Michael Prince of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.