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Residents urge action on long‑running disaster recovery problems and raise police‑use concerns at New Bern meeting
Summary
Public commenters pressed elected leaders to demand accountability from state/federal disaster recovery programs and described alleged excessive force by police against a local resident, calling for investigation and protections; speakers requested board follow-up and inquiry into both issues.
During the public comment period at the April 14 meeting several residents described long-running frustrations with state and federal disaster-recovery programs and raised allegations of police misconduct.
David French, who identified himself and gave an address, criticized state and federal recovery programs for Hurricane Florence and later programs in Western North Carolina, saying thousands remain homeless and urging local officials to demand accountability and consider litigation. French framed his remarks in constitutional terms and urged the board to act on behalf of flood survivors.
Community advocates also addressed a separate incident they described as police use of force against a resident, Elgen Britt. Reverend Ethel Samson and Dr. Cedric Britt (who identified himself as an advocate and diplomat) said Britt sustained significant injuries, described lasting trauma and called for accountability and better constitutional policing. Dr. Britt referenced U.S. Supreme Court precedent on stop-and-frisk and suggested the city may face liability under Monell if patterns of unconstitutional stops or searches persist.
Board members listened and said the speakers could return for a future meeting; staff and the board did not take formal action on the allegations at the April 14 meeting, but board members invited follow-up and noted the public may return at the May meeting to continue discussion and request formal responses.
