By Richard Sullins | richard@rantnc.com
“There is no part of our city that is not redeemable. Those areas can come back,” former Sanford Director of Planning and Development Robert Bridwell said during his portion of the Equity Task Force’s report to the City Council during a workshop on November 9.
The 46-page report was presented by Bishop Charles Mellette, founder and senior pastor of Christian Provision Ministries, and many of the 18 members who served as part of the group. The document is the culmination of a year-long effort that included consultations with local and regional experts in the development of a blueprint for social change in six main areas.
They include wages and income, criminal justice reform, housing and home ownership, communication and community responsibility, leadership and inclusion, and education and health.
The Task Force was appointed by Mayor Chet Mann and the council just over a year ago to identify community needs and recommend solutions that it considered to be critical to the health and well-being of the city. During the past 12 months, it held public meetings and forums, conducted research and surveys, and collaborated with municipal and community groups to develop recommendations for change.
The report and its findings were received enthusiastically.
“I was very impressed and happy with their work. The quality and experience levels of the task force was off the chart,” Mann said.
Mellette told the council the highest priority area of concern among Sanford and Lee County residents is the need for higher-paying employment. U.S. Census data shows the median household income for the past 12 months among white families in Lee County is $61,250 while among African American families median household income is less than half that amount, at $27,373. Hispanics fall between those extremes, with a median income of $46,083.
That same disparity can be seen in the percentage of persons living on or below the poverty line. Among whites, that number is 9.5 percent. More than twice that percentage of Hispanics (19.3) live in poverty, while the percentage of African Americans living in poverty in Lee County is one in every four (24.8).
The Task Force recommended that the city recruit for its leadership and employment positions in underrepresented communities, finding that 80 percent of the current City Hall staff is white. It also recommended the creation of an orientation program to city services, boards, and commissions, and that grants to new industries would be contingent on proof of equitable hiring practices and racial and ethnic diversity in the workplace.
Veteran defense attorney Fred Webb presented the group’s findings and recommendations on criminal justice. A key suggestion would be a change in Sanford Police Department policy to increase the number of foot patrols instead of driving patrols and spending non-enforcement time in neighborhoods in collaborations with local partners. Webb believes that having officers visible in communities at times when they are not present to carry out an enforcement action will go a long way in making communities safer places to live.
A key strategy for addressing the numbers of young people who get involved in criminal activity is to get them engaged in more productive pursuits and Webb reiterated an idea that seems to come up every so often – investing in after-school recreation. The Task Force recommended the creation of a Youth Center for recreation and mentoring programs in three possible locations: O.T. Sloan Park on Bragg Street; downtown Jonesboro; or the Kendale Shopping Center.
“There are not enough opportunities for adolescents ages 12 to 17 in Sanford and Lee County,” Webb said. “These three areas would be among the most impactful locations where we could begin making these changes for young people.”
But if any real change is to take place in making Sanford and Lee County more equitable places to live, Webb said “it is absolutely essential that action be taken to decriminalize poverty here.”
The report suggests that the city explore a collaboration with Lee County to establish a program that would eliminate traffic court debt and restore driver’s licenses, reduce the use of cash bail, and eliminate incarceration in order to pay fines and fees.
As of February 2021, 3,078 people in Lee County had their licenses suspended because of unpaid traffic fines, meaning that they are unable to drive to work, support their families, buy their groceries, and be productive citizens. 48 percent of those cases are among African Americans, 21.6 percent are Hispanics, and 26.5 percent are white. 78 percent of all bonds issued within the county are for misdemeanors. Webb said that similar programs have been created in Wake and Durham counties with the assistance of the N.C. Justice Center.
“It just makes good sense for a county like ours to establish a policy that we don’t want people locked up in order to pay for fines and fees,” he said.
But perhaps nowhere are racial and ethnic disparities more apparent than in
home ownership. The Task Force found that 68 percent of white families own their home in Sanford, compared to 38 percent of Latinos and just 36 percent of black families. Bridwell said that this is circumstance is not because of a lack of effort.
“The city has not been negligent in its efforts regarding housing. In fact, it has made many commendable efforts to provide affordable housing since the decades of the 1950s and 1960s,” he said. “Minimum housing has always been a high priority here. But we can do better. We must do better, because there is no greater measure of a life well-lived than owning our own home.”
The report recommends that the city create a Livable Housing Initiative with bond issues and or general funds to support and attract innovative affordable housing development through infrastructure funding of water and sewer, curb and gutter, streets, sidewalks, open space, parks, and community facilities. Initial target areas for improvements would include East Sanford, Woodland Avenue, Washington Avenue, and Jonesboro.
The importance of good communication between the city and its citizens came up
in several recommendations. The report cited the need to go beyond just social
media, though, saying that things like in-person outreach in neighborhoods where
people live may be among the most effective ways to reach those with limited or
no access to the digital realm. There is a particular need for bilingual communication from the city in both online and print form regarding public meetings, as well as a need for skilled interpreters in many cases.
To assure that equity among its citizens becomes a way of life in Sanford, the Task Force’s final recommendations were for the creation of a staff position to oversee
the implementation of the Equity Action Plan and its successors, and for the creation of a City of Sanford Equity Advisory Board.
Mayor Pro Tempore Byron Buckels, a member of the Equity Task Force, says that the work of assessing each of the report’s recommendations has begun.
“The first step from the council was to assign a staff member to oversee the work of the recommendations, in which we did identify Tuesday night at the workshop meeting,” he said. “As far as prioritization, there were also short- and long-term timelines with each recommendation as well. With that being said, I do foresee the council moving forward on several recommendations at the same time.”
Mann said that with the designation of this point person “we will likely have a council follow-up to discuss the recommendations and then go from there.”
Shannon Judd, chief executive officer of the Sanford Housing Authority, provided
updates to the council on the status of several projects among its eight rental communities.
The $8 million renovation project at Matthews Courts is now 75 percent complete, although an extension of its deadline will likely have to be requested because of delays resulting from the COVID pandemic. A notice to proceed with renovations has also been issued for the 226 Linden Avenue property.
Work at Stewart Manor, a 99-apartment high rise located at 500 Dudley Avenue, has also been going slower than expected. Only one of the building’s elevators is now in operation and leaks that created mold issues are being addressed. The structure, completed in 1978, is being repainted on the inside. Stewart Manor is presently about 55 percent filled and new tenants are not being moved in until issues are resolved in each apartment.
In addition to supply chain issues, dwindling cash flow is also contributing to the slow pace of the repairs and renovations. Many tenants have not been able to pay their rent for several months because of COVID. Those funds are typically plowed back into the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development budget for reinvestment in public properties and the shortage of rent dollars is having a trickle-down effect project completions. Further complicating matters are increased numbers of applicants for public housing, again related to the COVID pandemic.
Judd said the Sanford Housing Authority now has about 1,700 people living in its public housing units and another 1,471 applications for spaces as soon as they become available. Those pending applications could represent as many as 4,000 persons now waiting on public housing in the city.
All able bodied recipients of welfare can be put to work rebuilding the free/reduced housing. Free childcare is available, so even the women can work. There are signs everywhere for jobs….everywhere….so until you stop coddling….the problem will never go away. There are so many programs right here in Lee county that are sooooo under utilized it is not even funny. EVERY single welfare recipient, that is able bodied, should be required to attend the programs budgeting, home ownership, etc. programs right here in Lee county. I am sooooo tired of able bodied people just sitting back and not putting forth any effort. And….The most important part of the task force implementation should be geared toward youth…there is nothing in Lee county for the youth. And I dare any one of you to walk the streets with the cops, instead of in a patrol car….i dare you. Some of the neighborhoods in Sanford ARE NOT SAFE to even drive through…..and turning a blind eye of known hot spots is not the answer. Patting people on the head and saying poor thing, we will take care you, we will make it so easy for you….has not worked. There is a job for every single person in this town….but pride, lack of public transportation, and more money/food stamps/housing, unemployment payments out the wazoo, etc. creates incentives NOT to work. Attaching classes, mentors, and other reasonable helpful requirements to those benefits would provide the transitional help needed to navigate what it takes to get off the welfare roles….the only thing required right now is a hand sticking out. I say it is time to stop beatifying the city and time to roll up the sleeves and WALK through a few of the neighborhoods yourselves and talk to the people one on one and find out what exactly is holding them back….a LOT of it is down right choice. I dare you to ask how many minorities, no matter what age, actually go to apply for the FREE community college and grants for 4 year college. I know, I used it. Also, Lee county is so full of drugs and drug addicts i say enough with the beautification projects and round up the drug dealers and drug addicts and get them some help….or put them in jail….they will dry up there if the jail is run correctly. And COVID19 is NO LONGER an EXCUSE for anything anymore. The number of vaccinated is high %, the drugs/treatments, if you get it, are highly effective (even though not available in Lee county, tsk tsk), and besides that, the death rate is SO LOW, it is no worse than past flu seasons. So stop with the excuses of COVID….it doesn’t hold water any more.
pcfreeland – you are so full of you know what, that there is obviously no help for you. And seriously tell me the last time over 18,000 North Carolinians died from the flu in 20 months. No, never mind. Just keep you uneducated thoughts to yourself.
Pcfreeland, I have read your comments and I understand why you feel the way you do. Because you and some of the others that liked what you said, are not willing to accept the truth as it is. You see the disparity that goes on in this society, not just Sanford but all over the world, that involves people of color as opposed to whites. You choose not to admit it, but put a spin on the problem to make it seem as though it doesn’t exist. Ask yourself, would I like to experience, what these people go through with on a day to day basis? Then answer truthfully No! We can have the same degree of education as a white person and get turned down or looked over because of the color of our skin! Not playing the race card, just telling the gospel truth. Just walk a mile in our shoes. I am not saying that some of the things you said, are not true but it doesn’t just apply to the people of color. There are as many or more whites on welfare as there are blacks. Do your self a favor and stop condemning people because you have not experienced the other side of the coin. This Task force, consisted of all races and reported what they found. I surely hope the City listens and try to address the problems! Have a wonderful day and I am glad to know how you feel.
Everyone that gives effort has the opportunity to make something out of their life. Not everyone is on the same level. Equity is just a Marxist tactic.
What we are witnessing is the result of decades of failed education in Lee county. There are numerous studies around the world that demonstrates that education is the foundation of economic improvement. These Equity studies focuses primarily on government involvement to increase wages, reduce cost of living for certain demographics, reduce punishment for breaking laws or not paying fines for vehicle infractions. Until Lee County makes a “REAL” effort to improve education in our schools the future of Lee County will always be in jeopardy. As far as I know, Lee County has only one “A” rated school in the entire county. How can we expect any demographic in the county to have economic success and economic stability if they don’t have a strong educational foundation to build on. You will never raise a people by lowering the bars they need get over. You have to give them the skills and knowledge how to reach those bars. It’s is easy to claim inequity by showing numbers that are disturbing while never looking at the hard facts of the root cause. You can throw all the money in the world at a problem and never solve it. Why? Because Money isn’t the problem. Not having the knowledge of how to use the money is the problem. A simple truth in life for almost everyone is, “That which is given is never as valued as much as the which is earned” Another simple truth is, “That which is given, can be taken away”. If we as a community want to help, then we need to change the mindset of helping the poor be comfortable in their poverty and helping the poor get out of their poverty by creating opportunities for people to learn the skills needed to generate their own economic security. By doing this not only do they personally benefit but the county will also benefit. There is no economic or social benefit by the county expanding a population that doesn’t economically contribute. However, by educating that same group and helping them have the skills needed to get meaningful employment and become entrepreneurs that same group will have personal and economic independence while also creating jobs, creating more industry, and achieving the personal dignity of earning your way instead of the demoralizing and degrading results of creating generational government dependence. As a parent i have found it disturbing how few job opportunities there are for our citizens under the age of 18. Jobs that are historically for teens like grocery stores, fast food, restaurants won’t hire because they don’t want to deal with the restrictive government policies that restrict work schedules. The Owners and Managers don’t want to deal with their staff schedules to meet the requirements of people 17 and younger. We have thousands of teenagers just want to work but we don’t let them, so what else are they going to do? Run the streets and get involved in activities that can get them into trouble. This is just one example of how we can help our next generation learn work skills and ethics, create opportunities for them to understand the work environment and put some money in their pockets and they learn the benefit and dignity of earning. Idle hands creates problems. I can go on for hours on how if we really want to look at “Equity” we must first fix opportunity. Give a person a fish, you feed them for a day, teach them to fish, you feed them for the rest of their lives.
Well said.
“Equity task force”
Equality – American ideal where everyone has a chance but results in disparate outcomes based on different skills, interests, and decision making.
Equity – Equality of outcome regardless of different skills, interests and decision making. Fundamentally flawed theory that has failed at every attempted implementation and resulted in horrific conditions for all members within a society.
City of Sanford, I will not attribute malice when simple incompetence is the most likely reason but definitions matter.
Equity Task Force?? More of the BS liberal agenda at play! More give me, give me, give me what I didn’t earn and am not willing to work for!!! Sickening. The Rant is a liberal rag!
The abject ignorance of some here is a black eye for Sanford.
I guess when you don’t know or don’t care about the history of Sanford and Jonesboro you are apt to make stupid comments.
Any of you old enough or smart enough to remember Gary Lyons? Remember Lyon’s Bottom?
Lyon’s bottom was a black, slum, without full plumbing that was off of Boykin Avenue and Fields Drive. The presence of Lyon’s Bottom combined with Red Lining and Jim Crow meant that the black owned housing between W. B. Wicker School and Fields Drive never appreciated in value.
Home value appreciation is how most Americans build any family wealth. Between the Railroad Tracks in Downtown Sanford and heading back toward the Dirty Book Store is another set of houses without legitimate street frontage. You can’t get a mortgage on stuff like that.
Jonesboro had a neighborhood like this off Humber Street behind the Iron Foundry.
Your average white person who worked hard and saved could put his or her money in a house in Sanford and could have something near the end of their life to pass on to their children or something to borrow against to fund education for their children. Your average black person in Sanford could not do that until the mid 1970’s.
When you push people into slum rentals you prevent them from advancing. When you maintain slums and low income rentals you invite a continuing stream of poor people into your community.
Each generation that reproduces itself in slum or public housing does so without accruing any of the benefits or learning that go with home owners.
I applaud the City addressing this as it will make Sanford a better place.
I guess a history lesson is in order.
Jonesboro in Moore County is the older town. It was never a manufacturing town, but a farm, tobacco, mercantile town. Economic opportunity did not abound. By 1946 they had bankrupted themselves and were unwilling to fund the replacement of their failed WWTP. The NC Local Government Commission forced a merger with the Town of Sanford. Jonesboro got just 2 of the new 7 member Board for the City of Sanford as punishment for being cheap.
Sanford is the younger town. Sanford was a sin town at a railroad stop. Sanford became a mill town after the 1930’s. As a “mill” town, having a supply of low cost labor was critical. That’s why Sanford is an industrial town now. Cheap labor has been critical for the area for the past 100 years or so.
Cheap labor in the South means keeping “poor white trash” down with a bad wage, and threatening to replace them with “poor black folk”. That was a winning formula for mill owners for decades. Even when owners finally appreciated the evil of that, they found themselves trapped in that system and by the 90’s they faced international competition that killed the mills or forced them to mechanize jobs.
What you end up with is a thin layer of wealth concentrated in West Sanford and in some rural landowners. The wealth differential is such that the wealthy shop and dine in Pinehurst/Southern Pines, and Raleigh/Chapel Hill. The bitterness in Jonesboro prevented investment in Downtown Sanford for decades.
Blockbusting and an abandonment of older neighborhoods in favor of new housing allowed Oakwood (East Sanford) to become rental housing.
Today you have a City Hall in the middle of no where. You have a hospital in the middle of no where.
When Lee County was formed, the Courthouse was placed between Sanford and Jonesboro,
For most of the 20th Century it overlooked Oil Storage and Tobacco Warehouses
A great deal of redevelopment is needed between the Courthouse and downtown Sanford. Now that you can drive up and down Horner Boulevard without being run over by a semi, that area needs redevelopment in housing, commercial, and office otherwise you will just see more disparate nodes of economic development further and further out from the center.
Does Sanford really need to have commercial and office development in Swann Station, Moncure, and Gulf? That’s your 2050’s if you don’t redevelop the core and invest in the people in the core.