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Crystal Spring resident urges Roanoke leaders to address rising neighborhood safety after elderly resident's murder
Summary
A Crystal Spring neighborhood resident told council he no longer feels safe walking at night after a recent homicide and described ongoing issues with loitering, drug use and public disorder in the area.
Greg Mackey, a Crystal Spring neighborhood resident, told the Roanoke City Council on March 3 that neighbors are alarmed by a recent murder and by continuing public-safety concerns in the area around Crystal Spring and downtown Roanoke.
"My heart hurts for her family," Mackey said of Susan Williams, an 80-year-old neighbor who was killed in the early morning hours; he described increased loitering, public intoxication, drug use, trespassing and property damage in recent years.
Mackey said that when he first moved to the neighborhood in 2015 he and his family regularly walked downtown at night, but that habit has ended as safety declined. He told council business owners in the area report similar incidents and that some residents worry the trend will drive families out of the city.
Mayor Joseph L. Cobb responded that the city manager and he had already discussed the incident and similar concerns and that staff would work with community leaders to seek solutions. No formal council action or vote was recorded during the public-comment period on the matter.
Mackey asked the council to open a discussion about neighborhood safety and to identify short-term and longer-term steps to protect residents and businesses. City staff and the mayor indicated follow-up conversations were underway but did not announce specific new measures during the meeting.
