City Council Meeting

Mayor Mickens, members of City Council, Mr. Canada, family and friends of the Hazers and members of our community:

Historic Poplar Lawn wishes to express our collective grief for the loss of members of our neighborhood last Friday as well as comfort and hope for the Hazer family members, their relatives, friends and neighbors and for our city.

Like of of Petersburg, we are feeling so many motions: loss for members of our community, anger that this tragedy has occurred, fear that it will occur again.

Today we come as a community to you, our city leaders, for guidance. How can we work with the city to stop this from ever occurring again? At a time when we are all quick with speculation and accusations, what can we do to actually make a difference?

We are all responsible for the loss of three young lives in our community; every member of our city is responsible for what happens in our community. Our community is only as strong as our meekest member.

As neighbors to the Hazer family and other members of our community who are living under the same life-threatening conditions, we are responsible for what goes on next door to us.

We ask that Council and the City Manager work with the police, with inspectors, social services, landlords and anyone it takes, and with us, neighborhood organizations and neighbors willing to improve this city and our community, to improve our city and prevent tragedies like the one from which our city is currently suffering.

One house, one block, one neighborhood at a time, the residents of Petersburg are willing to make a difference.

Thank you.

~Mady