PORTLAND, Maine — Following a shooting incident on Monday, residents of Portland's Bayside neighborhood are voicing concerns about public safety to city leaders.
"Here, it's particularly difficult because it's a low-income neighborhood, it's a majority Black neighborhood and there's not a lot of voice for people to speak out when they have issues that concern them," Bayside Neighborhood Association President Sarah Michniewicz said.
Michniewicz said she has been hearing concerns from residents about the rise in crime for months. However, she adds a shooting that occurred on Monday has re-affirmed some fears for neighbors.
According to Portland police, a 42-year-old woman was shot by a man around 2:42 a.m. on Portland Street. The man has been arrested by officers and is facing three charges, one of which is aggravated attempted murder.
"This issue, it's the violence. It's around low-income families, particularly children. There's a daycare across the street from where this particular shooting happened," Michniewicz added.
To address the rise in violence, Portland police explained earlier this spring in a health and human services and public safety meeting their plans to increase patrols in the area.
In an update last month, Portland Chief of Police Mark DuBois said officers arrested 95 more people in the area in June than compared to last June.
"I think we have a pretty consistent presence down there. We're still trying to figure out what works and what doesn't," DuBois said. "We're going to try and focus a little bit more on a lot of the quality-of-life issues that we run into."
Portland Mayor Mark Dion says the city is committed to meeting the ever-changing needs of the neighborhood and continues to work with local shelters and treatment centers in the area for those unhoused, who oftentimes are caught in the crossfires of fights or gun violence in the area.
As for criminal activity, Dion also said a lack of law enforcement staffing and overcrowded jails have brought challenges.
"This will be an ongoing responsibility," Dion said. "It's frustrating, and it's fair for residents to ask, 'When will it end? Why can't we be like any other neighborhood?'"