People want to clean up, stop violence in Bessemer

People in the Bessemer neighborhood want to stop the violence and spruce up the area.

The neighborhood discussion came at a meeting Wednesday night at the Bessemer School.

City Councilman Ray Aguilera hosted it.

He wanted to bring the community together to show what’s being done to improve the area. He was also asking for the community’s help in improving the area.

Pueblo police said the South Side, which includes Bessemer, had seven of the 13 homicides in the city last year.

Peggy Cooper, who lives in Bessemer, said people need to take pride in their homes to make the area look good.

“I want to see the whole area take pride in the neighborhood. It’s got beautiful old houses. They just need to be taken care of,” she said.

Paul Montoya said in order to stop the violence; educators need to be more involved.

“I think education is the main focus. If we can keep these kids in school and off the streets, that’s our main goal also” he said.

The Pueblo Police Department and the Pueblo City-County Health Department were part of the meeting.