Blue: Dover revitalization project a recipe for failure

I am an engaged citizen of Dover and attended a community meeting Nov. 13 at a local church. One of the major topics was Downtown Dover Partnership’s revitalization and safety concerns by residents.

Crime has run rampant in Dover over the past couple years, and it is not being addressed accordingly. We have shootings, drug dealing, prostitution and homeless individuals panhandling on street corners and obstructing traffic, just to name a few. People are angered and voiced displeasure with the police chief and mayor at this meeting.

I have often said to my neighbors that no revitalization project will succeed unless people feel safe in their communities. Currently, Dover has a bad reputation, especially in the downtown area. I don’t understand how the partnership’s board and executive director can allow the project of new, luxurious apartments on South Governors Avenue to proceed forward with the current state of affairs. It needs to be paused and reevaluated, like people at the meeting suggested, until they get that area under control. Just because you pour a bunch of money into something doesn’t mean people will come and/or the city will flourish.

No amount of money changes the fact that there is a problem. One gentleman who attended the meeting to represent the Downtown Dover Partnership made me laugh when he said that, once people move into the luxury apartments, there will be more individuals out walking the streets downtown, and they will be the eyes and ears to deter the crime, prostitution, drug dealing and panhandling.

Come on, let’s be real here. They will just become the prey and fall victims to the crime.

Judy Blue

Dover

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