FROM THE DAILY JOURNAL (Gannett Co., Inc.)
ber 7, 2006
Perception is reality.
Several business owners on Landis Avenue say it is usually quiet and that the shooting death of two men early Friday morning was an isolated incident. Those who regularly walk the Avenue say it is a safe place and that they've never had any problems.
And last weekend, an estimated 2,000 people were grooving to Latin and Motown music at Vineland's Dancing In the Streets festival.
But the image of downtown Vineland among many residents is anything but cheerful. Many say they don't feel comfortable going to the Avenue. Letter writers and visitors to The Daily Journal's online forums mention the drug dealing and crime. They are afraid of being robbed or assaulted. Who can blame them? It's hard to forget two men being shot to death and another left in critical condition. It's hard to ignore the robberies, burglaries, fights and brawls that have occurred on the Avenue in the past year.
This is a dilemma city officials face in their downtown revitalization effort.
Renovate East and Landis avenues. Paint all the stores and fix the sidewalks to make the Avenue more attractive. Bring in the entertainment, eating and shopping attractions the Avenue so desperately needs. This is the direction the city has to go. But all these efforts will be vain if people don't feel safe bringing their families to shop at the downtown stores and stroll the Avenue.
The perception among many residents is that Landis Avenue isn't safe. And that image, true or not, is a reality no one can ignore.