Flores started screening her tenants, worked with the police to bring about arrests on charges of drug and prostitution activity and appointed four neighborhood watch residents from each of the four sections of apartments. She also added more lights to the property, made tenants keep their porches clean and had garbage picked up regularly. My tenants are hard-working people with children. She also started looking for ways to keep the tenants' children out of trouble and is hoping to build a small playground on the property. On a recent tour of the neighborhood, it was clear that not every problem had been totally resolved.
Neighbors say one alley still attracts drug dealers, despite the city blocking it off.
In a recent survey, about 17 percent of the neighborhood residents indicated their concerns and wishes. Speeding, resident safety, drugs and property cleanup are listed as top issues. Hilda Freund said her home has been burglarized several times in the 29 years she and her husband, Ray, have lived in the neighborhood. One time the couple's car was stolen. Police later found it charred, sitting on the side of a road, she said.