To the Editor,
The residents of East Lumberton are having problems with rental properties in East Lumberton. We cannot and will not have people afraid to be in their own yards or afraid to sit on their own porches because of people who are renting property in our neighborhoods.
We have made the decision to continue living in East Lumberton. Some of you landlords decided to move elsewhere, either in another section of the city or another city or state; however, you still should be considerate of others and keep up your property and be more aware of who you rent to.
We are the ones that have to see and hear these things. Would you like to have your renters living right beside you or in front of you so you could see and hear all of this? If a sign was up in front of your rental property saying you owned it, would you be proud or ashamed?
We deserve respect just as much as any other section of this city. Do landlords know how many times the Lumberton Police Department has to be called out to your property a month or weekly or daily? You need to ask because each time we have to call them because of problems, for example gunshots, we need to be calling you also.
We are asking for your help to get our community back before someone gets killed. It could be your property someone gets killed on. If you would not want them as your neighbors, then don’t let them be our neighbors either.
Karen Higley
Chairman of Community Watch
East Lumberton
If I and other residents are aware of these problems, it is obvious the "owners" of the properties should certainly be aware. We should be able to live in our homes in peace and quiet, not having cars speed down the narrow streets and the drivers not caring who or what they hit,having their "stereos" blasting that CRAP they listen to and also never knowing what people who are on drugs/sell drugs will do next -- this is NOT acceptable and it is for certain records are being kept, photos taken, etc. to use as evidence at the appropriate time. Another problem is watching some people walk down the street, pants dragging, hoodies(sp), on their cell phones casing houses as they pass by. Another question is -- HOW can they afford cell phones if all they do is walk the streets, etc. --are we tax payers paying for their cell phones as well as many other things they have, including rent, groceries, etc.? This type behavior needs to end - let those "hoodlums" all find an area where they can live together and leave decent people alone. Be assured they are being watched and photographed and not by cameras which can be seen - the cameras recording all activity is WELL HIDDEN - so well I can't see them myself.
Hopefully if enough people will stand up for what's right, these "slum landlords" will wake up and make certain they check the backgrounds of those they rent to or let them go live with them.