East Central terrorized

As a parent, pastor of a church in the neighborhood, and a six-year homeowner in the East Central neighborhood, I’m astounded and dismayed at the way dysfunctional, criminal, bullying families continue to terrorize this neighborhood. I’ve personally been involved in numerous incidents that have involved the police, police reports and an ongoing dead-end accumulation of responses.

Children are bullied, threatened with weapons and physically hurt. Schools report, respond and recycle repeat-troubled youth while good students suffer. Police reports pile high, and parents are forced to keep their children indoors. The park is a bully zone where fountains and fields are off-limits for fear of assault.

Now that the COPS shop has moved to an inaccessible, rarely open building on the almost empty north side of the neighborhood, the toothless community betterment continues.

I will be one voice that will hold Child Protective Services and law enforcement accountable when a senseless act of violence takes a young life in East Central.

Eric Blauer

Spokane