PORTLAND, Maine — Several residents in the Bayside neighborhood of Portland are calling attention to "unsafe" conditions in the area and asking city leaders for help.
Ned Payne, a landlord for several buildings in the area, said his tenants have repeatedly brought up concerns about crime and drug use in the area.
“There have been hundreds of emails sent to the city that I’ve been CC'ed on or forwarded,” Payne said.
However, Payne and others believe their concerns haven’t been addressed. So he posted a YouTube video using security camera footage from one of his buildings, showing drug use, fights, and a person flashing what appears to be a gun.
He said while he hopes the people shown in the video are able to get help they need, he is also concerned for the several young children who live in the buildings he's responsible for.
“We’re screaming from the rooftops and things aren’t getting better,” Payne said. “It’s a very difficult to ignore, and so I think that is what it took to shed light on this issue.”
Following the video, several other residents commented on the conditions of the area. City leaders also spoke about the matter during a Health and Human Services meeting Tuesday. Portland police said they plan to increase patrols in the area.
“None of this goes in on any other neighborhoods. This is unique to Bayside,” said Avery Camilla, a mother and longtime resident of the Bayside area. “These child-centric places are all in the mix of this.”
Preble Street Vice President of Social Work Andrew Bove said the situation is being looked at by several organizations in Portland.
“It’s difficult for everybody,” Bove said. “You know, the video is shocking but it’s also really sad to see, and it reminds me of how much work there is left to do.”