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Residents urge Newton City Council to address downtown homelessness and preserve Central High School
Summary
At the June 21 Newton City Council meeting residents described harassment by a downtown homeless individual and urged preserving Central High School; Council Member Jody Dixon said no decision to demolish the building had been made.
Residents pressed the Newton City Council on June 21 about increasing downtown homelessness and urged preservation of Central High School.
Alicia Blackburn of 317 College said she had "been cursed by, and chased by a homeless individual during the day around 3 p.m.," and told council that mostly older people live on College Street and fear harassment. Blackburn said she had called police and relayed that "Chief Sipe told her that there were no officers assigned to downtown." The meeting's public-comment rules limited remarks to three minutes.
Several other speakers linked homelessness concerns with the future of Central High School. Pastor Elizabeth Sifford said she is seeing more homeless people moving into the area and added she did not want to see Central High School torn down. Polly Pearson, Greg Cranford, Larry Williams and Peggy Mungro Geter each urged preservation of the historic building. Ivey Robinson said the need for homeless aid is growing and stated that "last Thursday 52 families came for support." Cassandra Gray raised operational concerns about the Corner Table, including hours and lack of bathroom facilities.
City Manager Jonathan Franklin had earlier listed Central High School among possible projects to be considered for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, but Council Member Jody Dixon told attendees, "no decision has been made to tear it down by this council at this time." Mayor Eddie Haupt thanked the public for their comments.
Why it matters: speakers tied immediate public-safety and service needs—police coverage, shelter and day services—to longer-term decisions about a prominent downtown property. The council did not take an action to change Central High School’s status at the meeting; residents asked the council to consider preservation and increased services.
Next steps: Council discussion of ARPA funding and related project planning was on the agenda; the council authorized certain ARPA-related steps (see separate coverage of ARPA actions at the same meeting).
