Several speakers during the June 18 public comment period told the City Council they are alarmed that an out‑of‑town investor purchased a residence in their neighborhood and now houses multiple convicted sex offenders and child molesters there.

Raul Godinho said the property near his parents' home was purchased by investors who placed "not 1, not 2, not 3... but 6" convicted rapists and two child molesters in the house, and that the presence of those people has caused family members and neighbors to fear for their safety. "My parents live in fear. My community lives in fear," Godinho said, adding that school buses and children use nearby stops and that residents have had to invest in security systems.

Acela Obiakor, who said she has lived on Poplar Street for 32 years, told the council the home is "now occupied by six convicted rapists and child molesters" and described a special‑needs school bus that stops directly next door. "Help us find a legal and enforceable way to get these predators out of our community," Obiakor said.

Residents asked the council to identify legal tools and policies that could prevent the placement of high‑risk offenders in small residential neighborhoods, to notify affected neighbors, and to hold investors accountable for where they house high‑risk individuals. Several speakers said they intended to return to future meetings until they receive a concrete plan.

Council members and staff did not take immediate action during the meeting but received the testimony. Council staff or the city attorney's office would need to review state law and county housing placement practices to determine what legal remedies, if any, the city can employ, and to identify notification or zoning approaches that comply with state and federal laws.

(Reporting in this article is based on statements recorded during the June 18, 2025 City Council meeting.)