Reversing a Long Decline
Stakeholders say neighborhoods need resources , collaboration
STORY BY KEN DE LA BASTIDE PHOTOS BY RICHARD SITLER
For decades , the automobile industry sustained the neighborhoods of downtown Anderson and the west side . When the auto plants shut down and the jobs disappeared , many neighborhoods slid into a long decline .
Black residents and activists have been working to reverse that decline for much of the past three decades but have often encountered stubborn obstacles to neighborhood improvement and economic development .
Former Madison County Councilman Fred Reese has lived on Ninth Street for the past 35 years , witnessing the decline and stepping to the forefront of the movement to change the momentum . Reese has seen the west side of Anderson become a transient community , with continuous flux in residents as people move in and out of rental properties .
“ Nobody knows each other , people hear about crime ,” Reese laments . “ We need to bring the communities back together . I like Crimewatch , but they need to do a better job of telling people what is taking place .”
From Reese ’ s perspective , community members have to come together and discuss issues that need to be addressed . “ There is no quick fix ,” he says . “ We don ’ t have the homeowners and the mom-and-pop businesses we used to have .”
Reese says his neighborhood used to be quiet and peaceful . “ Now where I live , I hear gunshots constantly ,” he adds . “ There was a murder on my street . There are a lot of issues .” He believes county and city government can collaborate to address the host of issues facing his neighborhood and others in Anderson .
“ We have a drug problem ,” Reese says . “ The sheriff said you can ’ t arrest your way out of the problem , ( but ) you can .”
To Reese , part of the problem is lack of diversity in the governments of Anderson and Madison County . “ We ’ re not part of the overall community . Local governments have a pool of money from the federal government that should be focused on all neighborhoods ,” he says , referencing American Rescue Plan funds . Neighborhood residents want to see improvements made in the area , but government officials often don ’ t understand their needs or sometimes turn a blind eye , according to Reese .
“ I feel the lack of diversity and communication ( in government ) has really caused a problem that should have been addressed years ago ,” he says . “ With technology there is no face-to-face communication .”
Reese remembers that , years ago , local community leader Will Carter had a plan to discuss infrastructure changes and education , but it wasn ’ t heeded by officials in city
FORMER MADISON COUNTY COUNCILMAN FRED REESE IS SHOWN IN FRONT OF HIS HOME ON NINTH STREET WHERE HE HAS LIVED FOR THE PAST 35 YEARS .
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