Council Member Spelman, the council's resident criminal justice expert, thinks that the criminal justice center could have peacefully and safely housed the city's booking operation, but that that opportunity may have been forfeited by the county's mishandling of the situation. The county hasn't been going to the neighborhood meetings and talking to people. While the neighborhood was consulted about the criminal justice center in early meetings with the county, the height of the project was later increased from four to 10 stories, and central booking was added without the neighborhood's knowledge. And they are mad about it. The children in question live across the street from the justice facility, at the Regency Apartments, and attend Pease Elementary School and the Phoenix School day-care center.
Officers have to find another way of enforcing order on the street.
Neighborhood Association President Fred DuPuy, who demonstrated solidarity with what he views as another neighborhood jeopardized by the actions of the council. Spelman said that the only change in the prisoner population released near the courthouse will be a marked increase in the number of people arrested for misdemeanors like violating the camping ban, most of whom will not endanger the safety of downtown residents. Ironically, he said, the misdemeanants who will be added to the mix will be less dangerous than the felons who have long been released from there. Transients are going to be easier to spot than robbers and people who have committed aggravated assault who are released on bail. The Hyde Park Neighborhood Plan was adopted by the council without incident, and without opposition from Hyde Park Baptist Church, although a peaceful solution to the parking-garage dispute remains elusive.