‘We need to be united;’ Community expresses concerns at Springfield City Commission meeting

People throughout Springfield gathered for the City Commission meeting Tuesday night.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks ]

As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, this is the first City Commission meeting since Springfield gained national attention for its influx of immigrants.

TRENDING STORIES:

• ‘Real place of anxiety;’ Parents concerned after man protests outside local high school
• Much-needed showers moving through parts of Miami Valley
• ‘Dangerous’ chemical leak prompts evacuation in Hamilton County

State troopers, Clark County Sheriff’s deputies, and police from as far away as Cincinnati were inside the meeting.

Some residents told News Center 7 that they do not feel safe right now, especially when it comes to driving and kids in school.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recently called in state troopers for increased patrols and security on the roads and in the schools.

“We’ve been wondering why traffic laws aren’t being enforced for migrant people in the area,” Springfield resident Bill Monnigan said.

News Center 7′s Taylor Robertson attended the meeting and heard a lot of people calling for unity in their city.

“They (kids) need guidance, they need help, they need programs put in place. Nobody doing that, that’s the real problem,” Gyasi Jones said.

RELATED COVERAGE:

• Ohio Governor sends Mobile Field Force to protect Springfield schools after dozens of threats
• More state troopers on roads after city gains national attention for immigration surge
• State troopers to protect Springfield schools after multiple threats

“Kids have no youth-based initiative, there’s nothing to do for the kids,” Springfield resident Gyasi Jones said.

One by one, community members let the city commission know how they feel.

“We need to embrace the idea that the City of Springfield needs to be unified, we need to be united,” Haitian representative Jacob Peagan said. “We need to come together as a city, come together as Americans to stop the nonsense. Let’s move forward with Springfield.”

Some residents said one way to move forward is to start focusing on issues involving the kids in Springfield.

“The Haitians gonna be okay, homeless is gonna be okay. They’ve been homeless, they’ve been Haitian. The kids are the youth, that’s their future,” Jones said. “They need guidance, they need help. They need programs put in place. Nobody’s doing that, that’s the real problem.”

Jones’ child is a senior at Springfield High School. He said they have been scared to go to school after dozens of bomb threats forced students to evacuate.

“I’m literally thinking about keeping him home, just homeschooling for the rest of the year. It’s insane, our kids ain’t safe because the rhetoric being swirled on social media. It’s insane, it’s got to stop,” Jones said.

Springfield City Schools Superintendent Robert Hill wants parents to know it’s safe to take their kids to school.

State troopers will be at each Springfield City School until DeWine thinks it is no longer necessary.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter ]