GASTONIA, N.C. — Following a surge in crime, a Gastonia City Councilman is speaking up to address the problems.
Robert Kellogg, councilman for Ward 1, posted pictures on Facebook showing the state of the Akers Center on East Franklin Boulevard.
Kellogg, who works at the center, described seeing an increase in shoplifting, dumpsters used as landfills, homeless camps, drug use, and prostitution.
Dozens of police reports for the past year back up the claims, listing problems with drugs, vandalism, larceny, trespassing, burglary, robbery and more.
“In the current state that it’s in, it’s really a state of deterioration,” Kellogg said. “Decay is a good word.”
Jackson's Cafeteria, located in the shopping center, is described as one of the best restaurants in the city.
Nancy Martin, who’s family started the restaurant, said the crime at the center hasn’t hurt their bottom line, but they worry about the safety of their customers.
“We have a good business, but right now, we’re going through some issues with vagrants and homeless people kind of interrupting and blocking and stopping, you know, just panhandling, [soliciting] our customers,” said Jason Farmer, manager at the restaurant.
Martin and Farmer said they’re frequently calling police, but it doesn’t solve the root of the issue.
“It’s a constant," Martin added. "If you’re not out here and checking three or four times a day, it’s just a constant thing that you’re working on."
Martin and Farmer said they would like to see the mental health issues addressed in addition to more police patrols.
Kellogg said the state of the shopping center and the amount of crime just highlights the need to make addressing homelessness, mental health, and drug abuse priorities in the community.
At the next few council meetings, Kellogg said he hopes to bring up some of these issues with his fellow councilmembers to make effective changes.
“It’s just a lot of different issues that are a snapshot of not only Gastonia, but every small town and every small city in America,” Kellogg said.