Sue Wilson of Birmingham's Belview Heights neighborhood said she hasn't seen a police officer patrol her street in the three years she has lived there.

There's been gunfire in her neighborhood every day this year, she said.

Other residents who attended Mayor Randall Woodfin's town hall in District 8 at the Birmingham CrossPlex on Monday evening said they call police, but officers never show up. They said they want action now.

"We are afraid in our own homes," said Belview Heights Neighborhood Association President Sherry Lewis. "We can't go outside anymore. The quality of life is gone for us."

There have been two homicides in the neighborhood so far this year.

Police Chief Orlando Wilson said he and West Precinct Capt. Sean Edwards will personally meet with residents of Belview Heights.

Wilson pointed out, though, that his department is 120 officers short. He also told residents that if the police department turns up the heat, don't ask him to turn it down.

Monday evening's town hall was the first in a series that Woodfin plans to hold this year.

"No one deserves to live in fear," Woodfin said to address residents' concerns near the end of the town hall. "This city does not move forward without us investing in public safety first."

At the beginning of the evening, Woodfin told residents that he recognizes their pain following recent crime and acts of violence. Even though, residents said they haven't noticed it yet, the mayor said he is working to increase the police presence.

Woodfin said he needs residents' help in being the city's "eyes and ears" when it comes to criminal activity. He said policing is not enough. He said the city wants to work with neighborhoods to create block captains. "You can assist us with your eyes," Woodfin said.

Wilson said the department has special operations going on in five target areas in the city. He said officers were pulled out of other assignments to target high crime areas in the city.

He also asked for residents to help to make neighborhoods safer.

"The weather is starting to warm up. Good old community policing is coming back," Wilson said. "When officers arrive on your porch, tell them what is going on."

Neighborhood revitalization

"We are looking for additional funding to support real neighborhood revitalization," Woodfin said. "It is not enough to come into your neighborhood and only tear down houses."

He said he is working to build partnerships with developers and homebuilders to build new houses in these neighborhoods. "It is a process, and it is going to take a while," Woodfin added.

Woodfin said the city is going to engage with small business owners in a different way.

He also pledged in the next six months to secure a tenant for a former bank building, which the city now owns, near the Applebee's restaurant in Five Points West.

Woodfin challenged residents to not be dependent on the city to do everything in their neighborhoods. He said residents will be engaged for neighborhood clean ups and pastors will be asked to get involved.

City schools

Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Lisa Herring said new protocols on addressing school safety are coming.

"It will not be metal detectors alone," she said. She said it is about making relationships with students. She also mentioned bringing community members and parents into schools to patrol the halls.

Herring said how 12-year-olds are able to get guns also needs to be addressed.

When addressing school safety, she said "it is no longer the tornado drill in the hallway where we sit down and cross our legs. It is the shooter drill. It is the drill of what do we do in the event of an active shooter. That is the reality we live in."

School attendance is also a critical issue in all grades in city schools, Herring said. She asked for residents help in making sure children are going to school.

City officials answer written questions

Question: What will happen when Winn Dixie (on Bessemer Road) leaves? Will it be replaced by another supermarket?

Woodfin said Winn Dixie made a business decision. It is important to get community input on what they would like to see, and what they think is best for that space.

He said the store should be replaced by a supermarket that sells healthy food.

Q: Why doesn't the Birmingham CrossPlex look like Uptown or other retail centers? What is the holdup?

Woodfin said there is a visible difference that we all can see. Part of that is private investors spurring development, he said, adding that the city has to be more intentional.

He said Phase 2 of the Birmingham CrossPlex was delayed for years.

Woodfin said entrepreneurs looking to open businesses in Five Points West or District 8 need to be given the same access to financing or assistance.

Q: UAB football program has been wrongly targeted on social media related to the downtown stadium project. Can you clear the air on the egregious misconception?

Woodfin said the downtown Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center complex project isn't a stadium alone. "We are also investing in our existing infrastructure when it relates to our Legacy Arena and Legion Field."

He said residents have to drive to Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans for entertainment options. "It doesn't have to skip our city," Woodfin said.

"The city of Birmingham has to invest in its own tourism because that's what people want," he said.

Woodfin said the increased revenues from the expansion of the BJCC will go towards neighborhood revitalization.

He said Legion Field has been neglected for years, but he isn't going to abandon it. He said the city can invest in downtown and in Legion Field.

Q: I was told that the sanitation department that you all don't come down dead-end alleys. Is this correct? What happens when you have individuals coming and illegally dumping trash there?

According to the department, public works doesn't pick up trash in closed alleys due to the size of the trucks.

Woodfin said he wants to identify and fine those who are illegally dumping.