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Residents urge action on loitering and business decline during Texarkana public comments
Summary
Public commenters at the Sept. 15 Texarkana Board meeting said neighborhood businesses are closing and loitering and panhandling near a Family Dollar have driven customers away; a resident said 911 calls did not produce timely police responses, a concern staff acknowledged but did not dispute.
Several residents used the city’s public‑comment period on Sept. 15 to urge the Board of Directors to address business closures, loitering and perceived gaps in police response in neighborhood commercial corridors.
Ruth Penny Bell described a gradual loss of neighborhood services — a grocery store, a pharmacy and local restaurants — and said loitering and aggressive panhandling at the Family Dollar had made her and others avoid patronizing the store. She recounted an incident in which she said an employee called police multiple times within a short span and no officers arrived, and said she personally called 911: "Have you sent anyone out? We haven't gotten a call, young lady," she told the board, adding, "What is it going to take for this group to say no more? No more loitering?"
Another commenter thanked the board and staff for recent cleanup efforts on Hickory Street and said the neighborhood cleanup had been successful but that ongoing enforcement and support are needed.
In reply, staff acknowledged cleanup work already underway, said the city is working on identified trouble spots (Hickory Street and alleys were cited) and noted ongoing coordination with police and code‑enforcement activity. Staff did not provide a new enforcement timeline during the meeting.
The board did not take a specific enforcement vote at this meeting. Several board members later highlighted community cleanup events and encouraged neighborhood participation in National Night on Oct. 7.
The public comments also included a resident’s inquiry about a possible grant for a railroad crossing study and questions about a Seward Street bridge study and a potential housing study; staff said the Seward study was in progress and that a recent regional housing study had been completed in partnership with Texarkana, Texas and other organizations, though a separate city study had not been initiated with that resident.
