Allison Kepley, Salisbury, NC
♦The County Manager Gary Page sent a shudder throughout downtown Salisbury this morning when word got out that if Planning, Inspections, and other offices pulled out of the county-owned building at 400 N. Main St. they would be replaced by the PROBATION office. Good grief! This is certainly guaranteed to pump up downtown’s tottering economy. With the County Probation Department comes a swarm of convicted sneak thieves, pick pockets, shoplifters, muggers, stickup artists, prostitutes, metal thieves, burglars, junkies and assorted violent felons–just what the doctor ordered for downtown Salisbury. Crime statics downtown will no doubt see a spike. But the county’s gift to the vacancy riddled downtown may actually be a gift in disguise. If you own a security guard company or sell alarm systems your phone may soon be ringing off the hook. On the bright side having at least some people strolling downtown or casing it still looks better than none.
