Northeast News
January 21, 2015

Dear Editor:

I am responding to the letter from Leslie Caplan, published on Jan. 14, 2015, titled “Check your Northeast facts Mr. Melton.”

While I respect the different cultures, I did not move here 58 years ago for the diversity. Many people do visit our neighborhoods to see what we have to offer, but people are afraid to live here.

Criminals were rounded up in December, 2014, but there are still many lawless criminals here in the Northeast. Twice, they tried to break into my home, and they have vandalized my home and car. I cannot, nor will I ever sit on my front porch again. There are gunshots in the morning, the afternoon and at night. Recently, I heard close gunshots at 6 a.m. while out picking up the paper. I scurried back into the house.

I avoid driving down St. John Avenue because some of the drivers are very aggressive. On the boulevard (scenic byway), cars are parked in front yards and on the parkway, a code violation. When they get a letter from the city, they put gravel or concrete in their front yards to make illegal parking places.

St. John Avenue is like little Mexico. Our old buildings are painted every color of the rainbow. Where is neighborhood preservation? Fifty-eight years ago, Northeast was a beautiful, clean community with hardly any crime. I have been involved in working to improve the community, but now I mostly just pick up trash on my street.

This is an honest dialogue. Come, take a walk in the park with me.

D. Marra,

Historic Northeast

resident for 58 years