GROUP SEEKS ANSWERS IN SOUTH CAPE

No one denies problems exist in the city's south side, but the best source for solving them aren't city leaders, school officials or business owners. The solution lies with the people who live in the area.

That was the consensus at a Community Leadership Group meeting attended by about 30 people who met for two hours and 15 minutes Wednesday night at the Salvation Army. The meeting was designed to talk about problems and solutions in South Cape Girardeau.

Dr. Dan Steska, superintendent of city schools, said talking about the problems or trying to address concerns is "sort of like grasping onto Jell-O: It's slipping through our fingers."

Steska suggested some sort of commission or group of leaders within the community who could gather ideas and share them with a larger group.

"We can offer resources, but they need a group to speak for them and who are respected," Steska said. "We don't know who we're talking to."

There isn't any defined region that encompasses the south side of the city, said City Manager Michael Miller. "It's anyone who thinks they are in the south side," he said.

Some residents from South Cape attended the meeting. However, not everyone knows about the meetings, which are held monthly as a way of addressing issues facing the neighborhoods, it was pointed out. People still perceive the meetings of the group as private, some said.

Cape Girardeau police Patrolman Paul Tipler suggested passing out fliers with meeting agendas and space for suggestions. People who couldn't attend the meetings because of conflicts could still participate, he said.

Getting resident participation is key to making any improvement plans or making new programs work, the group said. Its members included residents, clergy, city officials, police officers and university representatives.

The group talked about five issues ranging from decreasing crime, finding more activities for youths and families, communicating more about resources available in the area, offering more education and employment opportunities, and increasing partnerships between businesses, police and the university.

Mary Lou Reddin knows there are crimes in South Cape: She said she sees evidence of it weekly if not daily.

It isn't just drug activity, although that is probably the root problem, she said. But she pointed to other things like littering and peace disturbances as being more common. Reddin said crowds gather in her father's yard at 320 Good Hope St. throwing litter and making loud noises as soon as the bars close.

"Everyone's frustrated," she said. Neighbors don't necessarily want to get involved because they might have to turn in friends or relatives, she said. "But it's the same ones every week."

Creating neighborhood watches or leaders could help people address those problems more quickly, some said. An adult curfew or stricter enforcement of city ordinances could also alleviate some of the problems, they said.

"We've got to get a grip on this thing," Reddin said.

Joann McCauley, pastor of House of Prayer church, agreed. But she said, "This problem didn't come overnight and we won't come up with an overnight answer."

Offering weekend activities for youths at the Salvation Army, publicizing existing programs and spreading information to residents is important as well, some said.

The group's next step is to form committees and put the ideas to work. "I hear you saying that the talk has gone on long enough and you want to get started," said Miller.

The next meeting is Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. at the Salvation Army.