It is day two of the first of what may be many Neighborhood Safety Zones in Harrisburg.
Tuesday they were not only back along South 19th Street, but also in other areas of the to see if they are looking forward to more of a proactive police presence in their area.
Police tell us that about 95 percent of area residents are welcoming them in the area, there is some limited resistance to their constant presence.
“It don't make no difference to me,” one person said of constantly seeing police.
“There is less traffic on the block, not a lot of cars,” added another.
Of course some we talked to didn't want to go on camera.
“If this is all the city has do, a cop sitting on the street I feel bad for them,” one person admitted.
“It's all just a waste of time,” another citizen told us. “You don't think it is going to have any long term impact? Nope, sure don't.”
Some still don't know exactly what is going on with the barricades.
“I didn't know what they were up here for I thought a crime was committed,” Tim Brown told us.
The merchants and customers at one store certainly knew and appreciated what was going on and so did some of neighborhood kids.
“Less crazy driving, uh, don't hear no gunshots,” they admitted.
“Every time I hear a gunshot, I just duck down in my room, have the covers over my head,” one kid told us.
If crime can be brought under control, this is really an area that is ripe for renewal. There are very few places in America where you get a four bedroom house, over 2,000 square feet, for prices that start about $40,000.
“Maybe if we can make those kind of changes than we can bring back people to the city,” admitted one resident.
Is this a program that will be welcomed in other parts of town?
We asked some of Harrisburg’s midtown residents.
“I think so because, I think there are too many kids with guns,” one person believes.
“They can't just pull you over driving down the street,” countered Jimmy Boulward. “You suspicious, hanging out slinging drugs they catch you doing that, I'm all down for that, getting the bad guys.
“I grew up in this neighborhood,” explained long-time resident and landlord Gary Smith. “I watched the neighborhood change and I think it is only going to be for the good. I applaud Linda and I just hope other residents feel the same.”
“There is a lot of young kids and they need to be safe,” concluded one person.
Code enforcement is also supposed to be part of the Neighborhood Safe Zone, but Tuesday the dog feces and unfortunately the trash is in the exact same place that it was Monday.
“We can't change the world, we can only change ourselves, but we can start by changing ourselves and then we can help other people,” one optimistic person told us.
