NOVEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 1, 2015 UCW 7
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
Racial Profiling a Thing of the Past for Fayetteville Drivers
Past Fayetteville Police practices, which the African-
American community described as racial profiling, are
still haunting the department. The City of Greensboro
is suffering through factual evidence that its police
officers make traffic stops of black men far more often
than others. Fayetteville Police were found to have
done the same thing routinely for many years. Civic
activist Troy Williams exposed N.C. Department of
Justice statistics showing that black male motorists
represented more than two-thirds of traffic stops.
The Greensboro News-Record says in an examination
of profiling there that the practice is still on going.When Police Chief Harold Med-
lock was hired two years ago, he says he put a stop to profiling. State DoJ data
supports that claim. The City of Greensboro is going through the same kind of
police/race relations issue that occurred here.
Panhandling Illegal; Still a Major City Problem
Years after a local ordinance passed regulating panhandling, the practice
thrives in Fayetteville. It's more prevalent in some
areas than others. Street begging is banned alto-
gether downtown and across the city after dark. It's
also illegal in roadway medians, but that's where it's
most visible. During a recent Fayetteville OutFront
Town Hall, Police Chief Harold Medlock said doz-
ens of arrests were made this year. But it appears
enforcement is difficult at best. On any day, especially
Saturdays, panhandlers line highway medians along
Skibo Road and adjoining arteries as well as exits of
popular shopping centers. Medlock says he doesn't
have enough officers to place a priority on panhan-
dling enforcement.
Transit Center Taking Shape
Fayetteville's downtown transit center's bones are showing. The new bus
terminal is taking shape on the city block bounded by Robeson, Russell, Franklin
and Winslow Streets. Construction is expected to take another 9 to 10 months.
It's a $12 million, two-story facility made possible by an $8 million federal grant
plus $4 million in state and local funds. Transit Director Randy Hume said there
will be some cost overruns resulting from utility issues and unexpected North
Carolina Departmentof Transportation project changes after contracts were
awarded. The center will replace a small, modular building in a parking lot off
Wilmington Road several blocks east. That means a reconfiguration of all bus
routes. FAST buses, Greyhound and Megabus coaches will operate from the
Transit Center, which will have a comfortable waiting room, a community meet-
ing room and numerous amenities as well as 16 covered bus bays.
It's scheduled to open in August
of 2016.
News Digest
by JEFF THOMPSON
JEFF THOMPSON, Senior News Reporter.
COMMENTS? news@upandcomingweekly.
com. 910.484.6200.
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