A group of citizens from the east side of Brookhaven met withthe Board of Aldermen Tuesday night to discuss what they see as thecity’s lack of concern for their community.

Roy Smith, an east side business owner who has been vocal inspeaking out against the city in recent months, and Brookhavenresident Bernetta Character gave lengthy speeches regarding theirperception of city spending in the 2008 budget. Neither Smith norCharacter were present at the budget hearing held Aug. 28.

Character petitioned the city for a community center, sayingthat many of the people on the east side of town have difficultyfinding transportation to the Brookhaven Recreation Department onHighway 51.

“This is not only for our children, but also for seniors whoneed education,” she said. “We’re trying to get people to getinvolved.”

Smith said he felt the city had made a clear statement by notincluding funding for a community swimming pool in the new yearbudget. He also disregarded extensive talk of establishing sprayparks throughout the community.

“By not approving a swimming pool in the budget, you have sent aclear message to our community that you just don’t care,” he said.”Sixty-five percent of this community is black, and although thatis a majority, we are still a minority.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Brookhaven’s population is50.9 percent black.

Smith went on to say he felt the poverty on the east side isattributable to racial tensions.

“You are getting richer and richer, and we are getting poorerand poorer,” he said. “There’s no secret about the fact that racialtension is rampant. I can see it, I can feel it, and I can smellit.”

In summation, Smith said that a swimming pool would silence theoutcry of his followers.

“Do you know how it feels to be poor, to be a minority, and tobe let down? We are trapped, double trapped, and triple trapped,”he said. “We aren’t asking for much, just improved quality of lifefor our kids.”

Ward Two Alderman Terry Bates thanked Character and Smith fortheir work for the community. City officials made no other commentslast night regarding the citizens’ appearance.

Since the swimming pool issue arose, it has been quite heated,with some city officials saying it’s cost-prohibitive and pointingto other communities who are phasing out pools due to upkeep andliability reasons.

Talks are in the works, however, for spray parks at City Park,Bicentennial Park and the proposed park at Bethel Church. Sprayparks would allow children to run under streams of water to playand cool off on hot summer days.