Columbia Slayings Spur Online Clash Over Social Divisions, Crime
One online poster: “It’s a case of the haves vs. the havenots.”
A debate has broken out among Columbia residents about possible causes for recent homicides–-two within a day and three within the last two months—with many saying they were worried about crime.
On Monday night, Nichole Bernadette McNair, 42, of Baltimore was found shot in the 8700 block of Hayshed Lane in Long Reach and yesterday police found Philip Edward Wise, 46, stabbed in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 5500 block of Harper’s Farm Road. Both were pronounced dead at Howard County General Hospital.
Dominique Davon McDonald, 21, is charged in McNair’s death. Police said she was trying to collect bond money from him. Police have also charged Anthony Patrick Parker in Wise’s death.
“I think the Section 8 people have been the ones coming down here and bringing the drama, and it’s giving Columbia a bad reputation,” said Long Reach resident Tiffany Bristow, who lived in the area where McNair was fatally shot. She was referring to public housing in the area.
“Landlords are not doing enough and screening potential residents,” said Bristow in an interview. She said she did not want her children to play outside at night anymore.
Other residents strongly disagreed.
A Facebook page created to reminisce about Columbia’s past often focuses on how living in this community has helped residents experience diversity unlike any other place.
The Facebook group's administrator Sekou Walker, a Columbia native who now lives in Catonsville, is among those upset by accusations that recipients of federal housing benefits are responsible for the recent high-profile crimes.
“My mom was on Section 8 when I was a kid... Not because we were poor... Anyone who knows me will tell you I didn’t want for [anything.],” he wrote on his group, “You Know You Grew Up in Columbia Md When.” “But it's hard out there being a single mom, trying to raise your child to do something positive with their life, while you work two jobs just to make sure that child has all the necessities of life without having to resort to illegal activities.”
Walker’s Facebook response came after one poster said, in reference to the two homicides this week: “It’s a case of the haves vs. the havenots.”
Dorothy Moore, who also lives in the neighborhood where McNair was killed, is among those concerned. She said she has lived there since 1982 and said when she first moved to the area, including where McNair was shot, it was peaceful.
“I believe Columbia is fast becoming a larger city and a camouflage for drugs, because that’s what I thought when I heard about this incident,” Moore said in an interview. “Not all of the people involved in [drug-related crimes] are Section 8, but this place has changed in 15 years.”
Some residents of Harper’s Choice, where Wise was fatally stabbed, echoed worries about safety in Columbia.
“I don’t feel like this area is safe,” said Maki Abdullah, 36, of Harper’s Choice. “I moved here in 2005, but after 2005 it was not safe anymore.”
A Harper’s Choice resident who asked to only be identified by her first name, Esther, said: “For me, I’m seeing some funny people around here everywhere, and when you see them you are scared. … “They are these bad boys coming down from Baltimore.”
Others in Harper’s Choice said they were not unnerved by the two homicides.
“I feel safe here and I’ve lived here a long time,” said Mina Eiselstein, 32, in an interview. “This is only the second murder I’ve heard about in a long time.”
Fares Kurdy, 32, agreed.
“I still feel pretty safe,” he said.
Wise’s death Tuesday is the fourth homicide of the year in Columbia and Howard County, the same number of homicides as in all of 2010.
Columbia became a city in 1967. According to the Columbia Archives, it is unique in its development, due to efforts to become integrated before the Fair Housing Act of 1968 made it illegal to discriminate in housing based on race, color, national origin or religion.
JH
8:06 am on Thursday, September 15, 2011
It is a matter of public safety and not a matter of income levels. Not a matter of haves and have nots. It is a matter of law abiding citizens vs. criminals and those would don't respect our laws. Stop the criminal activity and if that takes you to Section 8 units then examine why so much comes from those homes and how it can be ended. Elected leaders are failing all law abiding citizens if they allow this to continue.
Brook Hubbard
8:57 am on Thursday, September 15, 2011
Exactly. Section 8 may not be a direct cause, but ask why the high correlation between Section 8 housing and criminal activity? Who is policing those who use this program? Why did it take MONTHS to get rid of a Section 8 family ~known~ to be dealing drugs?
As I said before, either the program needs to be fixed or it needs to be removed from our neighborhoods. HOAs and the Columbia Association have the right to rigidly enforce bylaws that make it hard for those not doing their part as members of the community to stay. Landlords and tenants can be filed against for violating neighborhood laws. In addition, residents CAN file litigation against consistent problem neighbors.
Columbia is for those who want to be part of a diverse and supportive community... NOT those who would abuse a system and bring crime and disturbance into one.
B
10:51 am on Thursday, September 15, 2011
The rise of crime on Columbia is absolutely the fault of the ghetto people that are coming to our city on Section 8. Most of these kids, have no home training, no respect for anyone, and no respect for others property. They and their parents don't pay for much if anything at all and thats why they don't value anything. They throw trash anywhere and everywhere. They hang out in groups and work off of the strength of each other with their smart mouths, and don't care attitude. I am all for programs that help the needy, I am on a housing program myself. But I had to leave Columbia before I hurt someone or me or my son got hurt. Columbia is (used to be) a nice place to raise a family. If you cant do as the Columbians do..then STAY OUT or GET OUT. Baltimore has reclaimed its city, sending thousands of section 8 recipients to Columbia..well..I want MY city back too...
CAW21227
4:10 pm on Saturday, September 17, 2011
I live in Baltimore County right on the edge of the city and believe me B, Baltimore still has plenty of Section 8 people. We have not taken our city back! It's just as bad as it always was.
Some section 8 people moved to Columbia to escape the crime in Baltimore city but unfortunately it seems that wherever they go trouble seems to follow them. They have friends and relatives who are thugs.
CAW21227
8:33 am on Monday, September 19, 2011
Baltimore didn't send the Section 8 tenants to Columbia, the Federal Government did. In 1994, Bill Clinton (a democrat...remember that when you vote) instituted the Move To Opportunity experiment in social engineering. Supposedly, if low income families were moved to where there was more opportuniy for work, education and interaction with better educated, higher income families, it would result in raising their income levels and improve their lives with little or no disruption to the community. All of the Maryland counties got their "un"fair share of residents. Do you think it worked?
Angela
12:18 pm on Thursday, September 15, 2011
We moved out of Columbia after living there for 12 years. Our neighborhood was no longer safe- my young son was attacked by a large gang of children (many of whom attend(ed) The Homewood School. The number of Section 8 homes had been on the rise in our neighborhood and, while many in that program are wonderful additions to the community, there was a correlation between this rise and the increase of safety concerns. (The boy who hit my son while his friends and older sister cheered him on livees in Section 8 housing.) It seems to me that the number of high needs children and families is much greater than the social support capability of Columbia. So many children in Columbia come from troubled homes and/or have little positive adult supervision and there are few programs in place to help them succeed in life and keep them productively busy.
Derrick Jordan
1:08 am on Friday, September 16, 2011
Did I miss something or has it become easy to just blame the crimes on "Section 8" folks. If I'm not mistaken, the stabbing took place in a "Section 8" neighborhood, but not by section 8 folks. Both dudes had no fixed address so how is that related to Section 8? The rise of section 8 properties has everything to do with keeping homes in Columbia affordable to everyone. The market rent for places here is rediculously high. Bring that down, and section 8 won't have to be invloved. Crime happens everywhere and in every situation a certain group is not responsible, but an individual is responsible for the crimes. I would like to see how these folks handle living in real high crime areas like Baltimore, DC, Detroit, Miami, L.A., NYC, Memphis, New Orleans, Camden(NJ), Chicago. You guys kill me with the blame game here.
Andrew Kanicki
5:15 pm on Monday, September 19, 2011
I agree somewhat with you Derrick. There is a complete lack of perspective amongst most people living in the "HoCo" bubble. While any number of murders is too many, the reality is , based on the the population of the city, our crime rate is still one of the lowest for a city of this size, in the country. The greater issue is one of class, not necessarily of money. This is not a columbia specific problem. These same issues exist in Ellicott City (Normandy Apartments anyone?), Elkridge, Western HoCo, etc. It amazes me how people take rumors as truth, even the editior of this blog commented in an email to me that she "heard things" about certain neighborhoods. Because something happens in Columbia, the story gets blown way out of proportion.
Charlie Medeiros
5:45 am on Friday, September 16, 2011
I agree that we shouldn't just blame "Sectio 8" folks, however, one has to admit that the areas that surround these homes are usually the ones where you'll see unattended youth, folks loudly arguing, areas of trash and suspicious individuals hanging out. As it is, the world is drastically changing and even those who live in the "privilaged areas" are having issues with their children that maybe were not present a generation ago and unfortunatly this also trickles down to those in "Section 8" housing. All if us in Columbia need to take out city back, and to those who want us to experience life in high crime areas, I say personally that some of us have (try Rio for 18 years in a favela) and this is the reason we live/love Columbia, to be proud and safe.
Brook Hubbard
2:34 pm on Friday, September 16, 2011
Yes, the rent here is higher. There's a reason for that: People pay to live in nicer areas. Why should we lower the cost of living? Columbia used to be nicer because those without money, many of whom were associated with poor behavior or illegal activity, could not afford it. I count myself among those as I didn't exactly have an uneventful life when I lived in PG County. However, upon finally growing up and settling down I realized Columbia and Howard County appeared ideal for a quiet home life. I am now very concerned that I was wrong in my decision... because of the same exact types of people I hung out with when younger.
JH
2:51 pm on Friday, September 16, 2011
Another factor (beyond crime) to consider. While Section 8 housing means lower rents for some, it means higher taxes for others. The Section 8 housing units don't pay their own way. The tax revenue generated is less than what it costs the County to provide public services to the units. Some residents may well be ready willing and able to help cover the extra expenses. However, too many units will drive taxes sky high for other Columbia households ---- and that is the story today. We are all free to decide where we stand on the matter. If the status quo is fine ---- stay silent. If you don't like it ---- speak up.
Amber
10:10 pm on Saturday, September 17, 2011
Not everyone on Section 8 are criminals. I'm on a wait list for housing assistance. I'm married, have a one and a half year old, and I bust my butt going to college and my husband works. We can't afford anything on our own, I have no work experience, and we are broke. He works retail, I am disabled, and we are just trying to get by right now, and make a better life for ourselves and our child. I grew up in Columbia, my husband also lived in Howard County. My hope is that after I get through my certificate program at HCC (after which I will still be in college working toward my associate degree, and then transferring) I will be able to find a good job that we will be able to afford our own home in Columbia eventually.
sid
5:11 pm on Sunday, September 18, 2011
We need the death penalty back and we need add private prisons.
Brook Hubbard
11:13 am on Monday, September 19, 2011
Sid: The death penalty wouldn't help, because even if it existed most of these people still wouldn't be eligible for such an extreme.
Amber: You're right, not everyone in Section 8 is criminals. There are people, like yourself, that need assistance. However, why do you have to live in Columbia proper? If you are struggling to make ends meet, why not live in an area with a more affordable cost of living (Laurel, Savage, Ellicott City, etc.)? Your children will still go to good schools, you'll still be protected by Howard County PD, etc.
Section 8 does not belong within the Villages of Columbia. We pay more taxes, fees, and cost-of-living than just about any area of Maryland. It is not fair to the full-paying residents that someone else gets to live across the street for a tiny portion of what we pay. It is even worse when programs like this inadvertently invite negative elements, which Section 8 has been shown to do.
The program is necessary, but either it needs to be fixed (to remove those negative elements) or it needs to move outside high-income/high-cost of living boundaries.
shop goodwill
11:49 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
It's not Section 8 "people". There are crimes committed by people of all economic backgrounds in Ho.Co. In Long Reach where the Bonds agent was murdered, is not a Section 8 neighborhood; Many people have lived there for years and have purchased their condos. I like how no one is saying the obvious...does "Black" means Section 8? Just say how you really feel...this is sad. Columbia wasn't like this years ago when I attended Howard High in the 90's. I could walk the path home at night; now, I won't walk to the mailbox by myself. People are stupid, disrespectful and ignorant...whether they live in Section 8 neighborhoods or in River Hill. If a murder occurs in an affluent neighborhood, would you assume it was "section 8 people" (because you can rent a single family home with a section 8 voucher in any neighborhood)Let's just talk about taking back our neighborhoods by reporting suspicious activity and not just turning our backs to it.