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Residents press New Bern leaders for transparency and accountability; pastor alleges jail misconduct
Summary
During public comment at the June 9 Board of Aldermen meeting, speakers criticized changes to public‑comment scheduling, accused city leadership of silencing voices, and a local pastor alleged systemic failures at the Craven County Detention Center and called for state and federal investigations.
A sequence of forceful public‑comment remarks at New Bern’s June 9 Board of Aldermen meeting put accountability and public access at the center of the evening.
David French urged the board to restore public comments to the beginning of meetings, saying moving non‑agenda public comments to the end effectively silences many residents and seniors who cannot wait through long agendas. "Why would he restrict, restrain, and delay us?" French asked, arguing the change reduced opportunities for public engagement.
A later speaker, Dr. Tyron Brown, a pastor and long‑time civil‑rights advocate, made serious allegations about conditions inside the Craven County Detention Center. Brown said multiple people have died while in custody and asserted that fentanyl is entering the facility "through corruption under the direct leadership and supervision of Sheriff Chip Hughes," naming specific officials and calling for state and federal investigations. He said he would forward evidence to state and federal authorities and urged accountability.
There was no recorded response from county law‑enforcement representatives at this city meeting. City officials present did not dispute the claims during the session; Dr. Brown framed his statements as calls for investigation and named the Attorney General and the governor as parties he would contact.
Other speakers asked questions about how ad‑hoc committees comply with open‑meetings law and how the city interacts with the housing authority. Staff and the city attorney clarified that an ad‑hoc, non‑constituted advisory group is not a public body under state open‑meetings law and that the city’s typical statutory relationship with the housing authority is limited to appointments unless the city enters a contract.
The public‑comment segment also included positive community updates: Jesse Mars provided details of Juneteenth of New Bern events scheduled later in June, and residents raised traffic‑safety and neighborhood concerns, including a request to lower the speed limit on Queen Street.
What happens next: The claims raised at public comment are assertions by residents and have not been adjudicated in this meeting. Officials and county authorities would need to respond separately for investigation or official action.
