Words from the web
The management of Pershing Court Manor in Uniontown is pledging improved lighting and security cameras to help increase safety at the private, for-profit subsidized housing complex and the surrounding neighborhood. Do you think such things will be enough to make residents safer? What other things should be done to combat crime there?
“I am sorry, but for those that are not from Pershing Court or the East End area, you could never understand what goes on there. Everyone that lives there is not on public assistance, SSI, SSD or selling drugs, etc. I was raised in Pershing Court and have not lived there for years. I am married and my husband is in the United States Air Force. We have four children, three of which were born in Pershing Court, too. I am an author and a social work student. I tell you all these things not to brag but to let you see that the ‘people’ that you say should be thrown in jail do have dreams and aspirations. We inspire to be things, and because of where we come from people label us and say we will never be anything but project men and women or in poverty. How about we band together and speak life into these children and adults.”
“We need to stop putting a Band-Aid on the problem and get to the root of the problem, which is self-esteem and not knowing how to achieve goals. I call people like many of you ‘dream-killers.’ I say why don’t we be dream casters instead of putting up more lights, cameras and police like you are monitoring animals and not people.”
“Pershing Court has housed some fantastic people over many years. Ninety-five percent of the people there aren’t the problem. The youth need more programs, and we need to become more of a community like it was in the past. Tearing something down isn’t always the solution to the problem. Sometimes you can fix things from the inside out. Youth sports programs need to become bigger, and people need to become more involved. The people that complain never want to help with the youth.”
“Let’s find a way to start parenting classes also to help parents become more successful with their children. It used to be that the older parents helped the young parent with their kids. We could list hundreds of people that are from the area and have become a success.”