(From WEEK News 25) - Tensions ran high at a neighborhood meeting tonight in East Bluff.
Residents are fed up with the crime on their streets.
"30 years is a long time for a citizen to wait for a reaction from law enforcement," said one resident.
Residents at this meeting Thursday are here to discuss the rising rate of crime where they live. The latest example: a car jacking and shooting, as children waited for the bus Tuesday morning.
"Most people in the area have encountered problems with either gunshots, with robberies, with other types of things that are going on in the whole neighborhood," said Richard Mitchell, President of the East Bluff United Neighborhood Association
City officials got an earful from citizens in attendance.
Lisa Fisher, President of the Glen Oak Park Association, said,"Well, a lot of people say it's a been a problem that's for years. I think we've seen an increase in crime recently, and it's, people are saying enough is enough."
Peoria City Councilman Tim Riggenbach says that the community needs to be a community to know who doesn't belong there.
"We encourage people to go out and meet four of their neighbors. Go meet four people on your block that you don't know now. That way when you're driving down the street and you see them, you wave at them. You make sure that you have eye contact with people," said the councilman, who represents Peoria's 3rd district.
Residents here are clearly frustrated at the incidents of crime in their East Bluff community, one even asking why the Peoria police chief was not in attendance at tonight's meeting.
Peoria County State's Attorney Jerry Brady says stopping the crime is one thing... But speaking up about crimes already committed could stop more crimes in the future.
Providing us the information, providing us with witnesses to crime, reporting crime. Once the neighbors know how to report crime, then we're in a much better position to have witnesses so we can prosecute crime," said Brady.
Officials hope to form a partnership with these citizens to achieve a common goal, a safer East Bluff.
