CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Concerns about crime and cleanliness around city hall are nothing new. At-large council member Paulette Guajardo says she's seen it for herself.
"There's drug dealing going on. A lot of disregard for our property, a lot of trash that ends up right there in our parking lot," she told KRIS 6 News. "It can be a scary experience and I don't think that's acceptable."
The nearby RTA headquarters, Stripes convenience store and private property at the other corners of the Staples and Leopard intersection are also impacted. A meeting at city hall Wednesday was a first step for those entities to come up with a plan to put into action.
A big part of that plan is beautifying the area. Renderings have already been drawn up to show potential landscaping improvements at the properties.
"It'll soften up our look for our city hall, which is our home base and I believe that we have to have a little bit more pride in where we come to work everyday," Guajardo said.
She said city employees and citizens also deserve to feel secure and public safety is her top priority. The RTA is already stepping up to help in that area by making a change to its two bus stops on the city hall side of Staples.
RTA CEO Jorge Cruz-Aedo explained, "The police department has asked if we could maybe relocate so that we can improve traffic flow and congregate the passengers of the RTA on the property of the RTA."
Stripes is also discussing strategic moves to make its property more secure. Guajardo says it's a promising start to this partnership with a purpose.
"We're all working together to make this quad-corner the best that it can be."
Guajardo told KRIS 6 News that any changes to city hall would have to be initiated by the city manager. However, she is confident that things will look different around that intersection within the next six months.
