Asheville City Councilman Carl Mumpower has relentlessly hammered away at the issue of drug crime in our community. He’s brought a lot of attention to a confounding issue that goes straight to the heart of problems with our justice system in general. His tactics have also brought much frustration to local police and public housing officials who simply do the absolute best they can working in the system they have to work within.
After yet another recent email blast by Mumpower on the topic of drug dealing at Hillcrest Apartments, it appears that Gene Bell, director of the Asheville Housing Authority, could remain silent no longer. Bell wrote a long letter in response, which is excerpted below. In typical fashion, Mumpower emailed out Bell’s letter with his own response, which essentially acknowledged Bell, then said everything they’re doing still isn’t working.
On behalf of the employees of the Housing Authority, we are writing to respond to your latest email regarding crime in our developments, in this case Hillcrest Apartments. You have been a supporter of the Housing Authority in the past and very outspoken about open air drug sales both inside and outside our developments. We would normally disregard the political fallout and continue doing our jobs, but in this case, you need to be aware of the impact of your statements on our employees’ morale. You have questioned the integrity and hard work of our Hillcrest management staff, one of our best teams, based apparently on an unsubstantiated rumor you received from a disgruntled resident. Perhaps our expectations are unreasonable, but as our City Council liaison, we would appreciate it if you would check your facts before sending out such a message to the press and public.
We do not plan to make any changes in our approach at Hillcrest based on your latest email, but please be aware of the following efforts that we have been implementing over the last year:
1. About one year ago, we decided that our long term practice of requiring Hillcrest
managers to reside in the development was not effective. Last October, we reassigned
staff and brought in managers who could take a more proactive approach to lease
enforcement. The results have been quite impressive. Past due rent has been reduced
almost to zero, and the vacancy rate has been reduced dramatically. The property has
been at or above 97% occupancy for five of the last six months. That success is largely
because the staff are taking their jobs seriously, walking the property frequently, speaking
with residents and resolving problems.
2. The Hillcrest management staff have been working closely with APD and our contract
security service to reduce crime in the property, including –
a. Eviction of five tenants for drug violations and 15 tenants for other lease violations over the last 9 months. Three additional drug-related evictions are currently pending in court.
165 south french broad avenue, P.O. Box 1898, asheville, north carolina 28802
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b. Designing a protocol for security patrols during the evening hours that include
foot patrols to make contact and build relationships with good residents, ID
checks at the front entrance, 24-hour access to the property manager for problem
solving, and written reports for follow up action.
c. Staying in close communication with the APD Drug Suppression Unit by email
and telephone several times a week. They are also in daily contact with APD
patrol officers.
d. Developing better communication with supportive residents to learn and follow
through on information about illegal activities.
e. Working many hours of overtime to check IDs at the Hillcrest entrance on July 3
and 4, dramatically reducing the violence and tension surrounding that holiday
over the last few years.
f. Helping to design a replacement guard house and gate at the front of the
development and a new lockable gate at the back.
g. Better coordination with APD to ensure vigorous and consistent enforcement of
our trespass policy and promptly responding to any charges or events justifying a
“ban” letter or eviction.
3. APD has also been very active in the development over the last few months including –
a. Almost daily presence of the DSU commander on the sidewalks at Hillcrest since
May, largely eliminating drug sales during the afternoon. He recommends against
a heavy handed “lockdown” of the development and believes that continuing
outreach and relationship building have already been productive and will yield
stronger long-term results.
b. Arrest of five dealers out of Hillcrest during their May undercover operation. The
cases are pending in court.
c. Arrest since then of one of the guard house arsonists for a probation. He was sent
to prison for 3 years as a result of the probation violation and possession of crack
cocaine.
d. Frequent proactive foot patrols by DSU, HACA security officers, and Baker
district patrol officers yielding a significant number of arrests for outstanding
warrants and trespassing, along with more serious crimes.
4. Based on priorities established by the Hillcrest management team, the Housing Authority
has already developed plans and will be implementing a number of security
improvements as funds become available. Indicated in italics below are a number of
steps you could take to support our efforts that would help us tremendously.
a. Replacement of the guard house (burned by arsonists) and entrance gate
(destroyed by a vehicle). We have architectural plans and insurance proceeds to
cover these and were successful just last week in identifying a gate mechanism
that is acceptable to the Fire Marshal. We are ready to proceed with this project.
b. Expanded security guard coverage, so the property is monitored 16-24 hours a
day. We are analyzing our projected FY2010 budget to see if funds will be
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available for this and have received encouraging news from Washington that our federal operating subsidy may be funded at 96% of our need (based on the applicable HUD formulas) as opposed to 82-88% over the last few years. Please let us know if you are willing to call our federal delegation to ask that they vote to fund 100% of projected need in the Public Housing Operating Fund for FY2010.
c. Installation of a video camera system to identify drug buyers, including their
license plate numbers, and drug dealers in the development. The estimated cost of
this installation is $145,000, and we are collaborating with the City of Asheville
and Mountain Area Information Network on an application for Recovery Act
funding that will include this project. Please advise us if you are willing to submit
a letter of support for that application or assist in obtaining City of Asheville
funding for this critical security need.
d. Enhanced metal security fencing on the sides of the property facing the Interstate
to improve the appearance of the development and restrict walk-in traffic coming
across the interchange or bridge and climbing or cutting through the current chain
link fence. We are currently getting quotes for his work, and we do not have funds
identified. Please let us know if you are willing to advocate for City of Asheville
or other funding for this security need.
Until someone finds a cure for the drug addiction rampant in all segments of our society and for the poverty that leads young men and women to work in the market supporting that demand, we will not expect 100% success. Nevertheless, we will remain diligent – we hope with genuine support from our political leaders – in working to make our developments as safe and secure as possible.
If you’ve been caught in possession of drugs or been wrongly accused, you might find it beneficial to reach out to criminal lawyers.
Who do you think drug dealers in housing areas are selling their drugs to? Not residents of the housing authority, that’s for sure. What a dilema Carl would be in if he recognized any of the customers coming to Hillcrest to buy drugs as one of his clients, or children of his clients. Oh, and white too!
Carl Mumpower has continued his campaign of racial and class profiling in his latest blast about drug markets in the city, all the while claiming that he’s simply a law-and-order proponent. While he asserts that his motive is to curtail drug use, the finger-pointing at housing projects dovetails precisely with the right-wing Republican national strategy of covertly stoking the fires of racism.
Just as the anti-heath care, birther, and tea-bagger movements are fueled by reaction to election of an African-American president, Mumpower’s constant drumbeat concerning drugs in the projects partakes of fear-mongering and racism.
Statistically, white Americans use illicit drugs at a higher rate than black Americans, yet the power of overt and covert racism results in far higher incarceration rates for blacks. The subsidiary result is a high percentage of mostly male black men with prison records that diminish chances for decent jobs; a corresponding high percentage of black children growing up in fatherless households; a corresponding high percentage of such families living in poverty (since single-mothers have a very high likelihood of being poor) … in short, the policies that Mumpower advocates relentlessly are one of the principal CA– — USES of the reality of a largely black underclass.
I applaud Gene Bell for his tireless work on behalf of our city. He is one of my local heroes.
Oh Noes something dangerous in West Asheville, LOL.
Gene Bell (and his workers/staff) are some of the most dedicated workers in this city, and have been for years. Gene exemplifieds the best of what mankind is all about. He is a totally giving individual, rarely in the spotlight. To have chacterized him and the efforts as anything but "as good as we can do it" is introducing negativity where positive support is needed. His response to Mumpower says it all.
Mumpower (to the contrary) is Mr. Master Potshotter. He is the legislator who like others of his kind are quick to criticize whatever; schools, community efforts, etc, without ever having been in the trenches. To park your car and observe (I think he says he did that a while ago) is one thing…but why don’t you go work at the Housing office for a week, or move into the apartments, or go work at Reid Center, or go teach in a classroom for a week and get your hands dirty.
There is a HUGE leadership vacuum in this city. Gene Bell is one of the few, Black or White that quietly and effectively works to make Asheville better for all. Get off his back, stop bitchin and try to help fix the problems you see.