ST. LOUIS鈥傗⑩俆wo weeks after beefing up police patrols in the College Hill neighborhood, the 51黑料 sent cleanup crews into the neighborhood Wednesday morning.
It was the second phase of a project that city leaders hope will make the neighborhood a safer place. Police had increased their presence earlier this month in the neighborhood along Interstate 70 north of downtown after a string of slayings there.
The crews on Wednesday morning were asked to secure vacant houses, clear debris from alleys and make sure streetlights were working. Neighborhood stabilization officers were also working with landlords and property owners to make sure buildings meet code.
鈥淧eople respect their neighborhood better if it鈥檚 cleaner and neater,鈥 Mayor Francis Slay said Wednesday. He spoke at police headquarters, where he was flanked by Chief Sam Dotson.
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At least three people have been murdered in the neighborhood this year. Two weeks ago, about 80 police officers converged on the College Hill neighborhood as part of a crackdown on violent crime. That 10-day effort ended Sunday, with police saying they arrested 40 people and recovered five guns.
Now, Dotson said, it鈥檚 time for other city departments to address issues such as boarding up vacant buildings and picking up neglected or stray animals that officers observed while in the community.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not abandoning the neighborhood, we鈥檙e moving into maintenance mode,鈥 Dotson said. 鈥淲e want to reduce the calls for service and the opportunity for criminals to feel comfortable.鈥
In response to criticism that the city鈥檚 focus on the neighborhood was driven by Slay鈥檚 campaign for re-election, the mayor said that city departments respond to needs in College Hill routinely but that the recent crime warranted more attention.
Slay is facing a challenge from Aldermanic President Lewis Reed in the March 5 Democratic primary election.
