For the past few years, the community and the city have stepped up our attempt to improve the quality of life of our residents in the West 30s (our historically Black neighborhood). This has been a three pronged approach: 1) Cleanliness 2) Housing 3) Public Safety.

Public Works and I have attacked the illegal dumping that had plagued the area for years and made a concerted effort at litter mitigation. With much help from the residents themselves, one can see a marked improvement in the cleanliness of the area. Code Enforcement has and continues to tackle the problem of abandoned houses.

The West 30s Redemption Company has placed over 40 families into safe, affordable homes … each being purchased by the occupants thereby creating equity that may be passed from one generation to the next. Not a city program but rather a faith-based community program.

The City, via the Covington Police Department, has aggressively pursued guns, drugs, gambling, and the indviduals associated with these activities. In less than two years more than 80 guns as well as fentanyl, meth and heroin have been removed from our streets.

Sargeant Edwin Masters recently sent the following e-mail to his fellow officers. It is particularly gratifying to have a resident of the West 30s share the sentiment of safety … and our City is blessed to have these folks in Blue protecting us.

For almost 20 years, I have given historical walking tours of the West 30s ostensibly to raise awareness of the needs. Beginning this past Fall, those tours morphed from "look what needs to be done" to "look what we, the community, are doing." Good Stuff.

Perry and Allison commenced to slamming the door violently, contrary to Section 9 in the Revised Statue. They were swinging pistols and firing their guns in the street.

Mr. Fresch a-spied Matt Perry creeping up the alley between the store and where H. J. Smith's Son is today (H.J. Smith and Sons would not open until 1876). He saw Perry fire a shot through the window, narrowly missing Mrs. Fresch. The round ball rolled about the floor of the store.

The two men then headed up the street where they began to verbally abuse and terrorize the Fresch's son with obscenities and death threats. At this point, a crew of workmen attempted to avoid the two scalawags, but eventually had had enough. The workmen took away Perry and Allison's guns - - and then beat the tar out of them.

Today, we know Luke Allison's great, great (maybe 3 greats) nephew as Wayne Allison, bike mechanic at Brooks bicycle shop : )

Replying to this e-mail goes directly to Mayor Mark.

East Zone for bulk / non-containerized material pick up is May 1 - May 5.

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