District 1 - State of the District

Mar 28th, 2005

DISTRICT 1

Fredrick Richardson

Overcoming Challenges


In District 1, we have faced many challenges that we had to overcome. Blight characterized many of the communities in District 1. With the help of Judge A. Holmes Whiddon and the Environmental Court and cooperative citizens of the district, we are winning the war we declared on blight. Today, we are holding Environmental Court inside of neighborhoods.

We have organized Street Captains on many streets to report all incidents of crime or disorder. We meet monthly in one of the seven Police Beats in District 1, so citizens can express themselves and their issues can be resolved. My District 1 Community Policing Committee has been in force for five (5) years. This committee is made up of key neighborhood leaders, ranking and neighborhood police officers, key City department heads and myself. We move an array of leadership and support to areas experiencing problems. We have been most effective in solving problems on the spot.

Trinity Gardens was once the most crime infested community of Mobile. Today, it is among the most crime free communities. Working with community leaders, Police officials, Mayor Dow and neighborhood residents, we successfully took that community back.

We are bringing new venues to the district like the new Lake Drive Tricentennial Park off Stanton Rd. at Three Mile Creek. We are adding a new park in Crichton off Mill St. at Three Mile Creek. In Trinity Gardens Park, we added an Affordable Homes Subdivision, exercise track, community center, Senior Center, amphitheater and a recording studio. We have a new Toulminville Library. The only new modern Police Precinct in the City is in Toulminville. Affordable homes are coming to Crichton on Weems Dr. off Mobile St. An apartment complex for seniors is near completion on First Ave. in Trinity Gardens.

I see absentee landlords and their unkempt properties as the new challenge we must face. The issue of overgrown lots repeatedly left uncut must be resolved. I will be fighting for more capital funds to resurface more streets, clean more ditches and speed control devices to neighborhoods with high traffic. I am here for you. You ring. I spring. My motto is to serve.

It is a pleasure to serve the people of District 1. There are no issues that working together, we can't solve. Together, we will make District 1 the envy of all others.