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Forney residents urge council to pause new rental licenses and act after spike in shootings
Summary
Residents from Gateway and nearby neighborhoods told the Forney City Council May 5 that nightly gunfire, public drug activity and unruly behavior have made yards and streets unsafe, and several speakers urged a temporary pause on new rental licenses and stronger oversight of voucher housing.
Residents pressed Forney leaders on May 5 to address a surge in neighborhood crime and disorder in Gateway and adjacent subdivisions, with multiple public commenters asking the council to take concrete steps, including a temporary pause on new rental licenses and increased oversight of voucher housing.
Weston Temer thanked the Forney Police Department for its responses but said the Gateway area has ‘‘open drug deals’’ and repeated gunfire that prevent families from using front yards. "We can't even go in the front yard," he said. Chris Ward told the council he does not sleep and asked elected officials to "put a pause on any new rental licenses in the city of Forney until a full audit can be completed," saying he wanted a game plan rather than items removed from agendas. Rachel Mendoza said residents are "hearing gunshots almost nightly" and asked for "real oversight and accountability" of voucher housing and property management. Nofal Malai presented a poster board of incident data and said one recent night saw "up to 12 to 13 shots fired" near an amenity center, tying concentrated incidents to particular builder-developed blocks and warning of stretched police resources.
Speakers linked the public-safety problems to property management, developer practices and gaps in oversight rather than police effort. While commenters repeatedly praised the Forney Police Department, they said enforcement alone is not solving persistent daytime drug activity, repeated shootings and safety fears that are affecting school staff retention and residents' daily life. The council did not adopt a new policy or take a binding vote on a moratorium during public comment; residents left the council with specific requests for further action and oversight to be considered by staff and council members in coming meetings.
The public-comment period continued into other agenda items; no formal ordinance or moratorium was adopted during the May 5 meeting.
