HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Huntsville City Councilman Bill Kling said the Huntsville Housing Authority and police department are making significant changes in a community that regularly deals with gun violence.
Those who live on Binford Drive may have noticed more police officers in the area, especially at night. The community is under a curfew, which has been in place for several months now.
“I think the police department and the housing authority are being very vigilant, and we want to make sure what happened in May and also in September never happens again in this neighborhood,” Kling said.
Kling visited Binford Drive on Tuesday, commending the steps taken to improve safety in the area.
“The people in this neighborhood deserve the safe, quiet, tranquil neighborhood that any other neighborhood in the city have,” Kling said.
Last month, a shooting left one man dead and another injured. It was the fourth shooting to take place on Binford Drive in four months.
News 19 spoke to people living in the community at that time, who said they wanted to feel safe in their homes. Safety remains a top priority.
“Being in a neighborhood where you can just have a peace of mind, and you can just communicate with everybody without a misunderstanding, is really good,” said Myca Pope, who lives on Binford Drive.
Pope said she has noticed improvements over the past several weeks.
“It’s been okay,” Pope said. “Everybody has been calm, and everybody is gathering together. It’s cool out here.”
Others said they are still taking safety precautions, like keeping their children inside.
Kling said he is looking forward to seeing more growth in the area. A mixed-use development is planned near Governors Drive and Seminole Drive, right down the street from the Binford Drive community.
“That includes shopping, a new major grocery store, an apartment complex for low, affordable housing,” Kling said. “I’m proud to be part of the team working with the mayor, the administration, the planning department and all these great city departments that we have to make these types of things happen.”
Kling represents the Binford Drive community on the Huntsville City Council. He said, anyone who lives in the area should reach out to him with any concerns.
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