Birmingham Makes Decision on Whether to Keep Street Barriers in East Lake to Help Curb Record Crime

By Alaina Bookman | abookman@al.com This is another installment in the series “Beyond the Violence.”  Street barriers in a Birmingham neighborhood targeting public safety improvements are officially staying up. Alanah Melton has lived in East Lake for four years and her home has been shot into twice. She said she remembers the day bullets were sprayed into her son’s bedroom, shattering his window, striking his bed and toys. In public hearing Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council voted to continue an initiative, Project Safe Streets, which has blocked off streets and pushed resources for addressing violent crime and blight in the neighborhood. “I’m really sorry for my neighbors who don’t have the same experience, but the barricades have been a welcome experience for us,” Melton said. “I am in favor of the project with barricades because without the barricades we would not see these results.” Melton said she feels safer since the launch of Project Safe Streets. She said traffic has slowed and gun violence has decreased. Project Safe Streets is a city of Birmingham pilot program that aims to make the neighborhood and city safer by deterring speeding, shootings, theft, prostitution and violent crime. The project also includes cleaning and...