Wilmington voters voice concerns over violence, local leadership

While the presidential race draws many to the polls, Wilmington voters participating in Tuesday’s general election expressed deep concerns about neighborhood violence, youth support and local leadership.

Voters in exit polls cited these local issues, as well as key concerns such as gentrification and housing affordability. Some have called for more youth programs and better communication between city leaders and residents.

While these local concerns were prominent among voters at Wilmington polling places, national issues related to the presidential race also significantly impacted voter turnout.

In the afternoon, Steven P., who has voted in every election since his release from prison in 2016, emerged from the ballot box at the Carvel State Office Building. He emphasized the importance of local problems. He expressed hope that the new mayor would find solutions to youth violence by keeping swimming pools open and offering programs for youth participation; This sentiment was also expressed by voters at many polling places.

Community safety comes to the fore

Renzo T., who preferred not to disclose his surname, learned that his cousin had died on election day, hours before voting. Pointing to Seventh and North Lombard streets, Renzo explained that his 27-year-old cousin was shot the night before and died early that morning.

“I voted for everything I could vote for. Because this can’t go on,” the East Side resident said emotionally, outside the polls at Maurice Pritchett Senior Academy. “He’s gone now. I’m still here. “I came and did what I had to do,” he said.

Renzo called on city leaders to engage directly with the community. “Come here and talk to us,” said Renzo. “You’re trying to get votes, but you don’t know what’s really going on.”

Local leadership under scrutiny for causing housing and economic problems

While the presidential election is a major motivator for many voters, David Lewis, 49, expressed skepticism about the ability of national candidates to address concerns affecting daily life. “I don’t think any presidential candidate would mean anything to my community, the black community,” Lewis said after voting at Thomas Edison Charter School. he said.

At Thomas Edison Charter School, David Lewis, 49, expressed frustration with deteriorating neighborhood conditions. “I definitely want to see a change in leadership. Things are getting worse here. The kids have nothing to do, so they’re on the streets. Which leads to what’s going on right now, a lot of shootings. I lost a son on May 8,” shared Lewis.

Lewis also expressed concerns about gentrification and rising costs of living. “They’re pushing the narrative of getting black people out and getting other people out of the neighborhood. The standard of living is up. The cost of rent is going up. The cost of everything is going up. That’s the problem, especially in a poor neighborhood like this.”

The impact of stricter enforcement of property law on long-term residents particularly troubled Lewis. He explained how the recent changes put additional pressure on landlords: “You get a ticket (for a property code violation) and you have 90 days to fix it. Now I think it’s 45 days. … It’s crazy because these might be small tickets, but they add up over time and then (homeowners) could actually lose their homes,” Lewis said.

National issues push women to vote in Kingswood

At the Kingswood Community Center, the Coleman family represented multiple generations of voters. First-time voter Devon Coleman, 19, voted with his mother, Donyell. For both women, national issues such as reproductive rights and social progress guided their participation.

“I’m worried about the future of my children and my grandchildren,” said Donyell Coleman, mother of three girls and grandmother of three girls. “As women, we have a narrative about what’s going on in our bodies. And I don’t think anyone else should control that.”

Her daughter, Devon, who voted in her first presidential election, echoed these concerns with youthful passion: “What do you mean when you say, personally, I’m a woman and I can’t have an abortion if I want to? What should no man tell me about my body?”

The day’s speeches highlighted a community invested in both local and national issues. Voters in both the primary and general elections expressed a desire for meaningful change, better communication with city leaders, and solutions to persistent problems like violence and economic inequality.

you can C.Contact Anitra Johnson at: [email protected].

Community safety comes to the fore

Local leadership under scrutiny for causing housing and economic problems

National issues push women to vote in Kingswood

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