Stephanie Pedersen: My problem with downtown Columbus

I've got a problem with downtown Columbus.

As you probably know, I work down here. I exercise down here. I eat down here. I bring my kids to play down here.

My husband and I would live down here, but we love the school our son and daughter attend in Phenix City. So obviously the problem doesn't do much to keep me from spending a lot of my time down here.

I say all that because I don't feel like downtown Columbus is dangerous. Of course, crime happens everywhere, but it's more the idea of a possible threat.

I'm talking about some of the people on Broadway. In particular, I'm talking about the ones hanging out in front of the downtown YMCA.

Two stories:

I parked on Broadway with my two kids in the back seat, ready to walk into the YMCA. Before we got out of the vehicle, my son asked me a question.

"Is that man dead?"

He was pointing at a man who was passed out on the sidewalk of Broadway. That wasn't easy to explain, but I don't hide the news and realties of this world from my children.

Second story is from just a few weeks ago on a Saturday morning when I parked on Broadway, again near the YMCA. I jogged across 13th Street and went down to Market Days to get some granola and a few vegetables. After dropping off the food at my vehicle, I went to the gym.

I witnessed two drug deals in about 50 feet. One man even opened his baggie to ask me if I needed anything to help me with my workout.

I wasn't threatened or assaulted. I didn't feel like I was in extreme danger. But I didn't feel safe, either.

And because of that, I made the decision that I shouldn't park on Broadway by the YMCA again. I didn't make that decision because I was ever in danger. I'm trusting my gut.

Since that encounter, I've decided to only park in the gym's parking lot, so I don't have to continuously turn down people who ask for money and cuss me out if I don't give it to them.

I want to help them out. I really do. I understand they've been through tough times, and some of them are trying to get back on their feet. That's why I'll sometimes offer to get them a sandwich from Country's. Most have declined the offer.

I grew up on 14th Street in Phenix City right in front of the Frederick Douglass Apartments. I remember crossing the 14th Street bridge and looking down Broadway to absolutely nothing. You didn't come down here, and if you had to, you didn't stay long.

I would have never imagined it would be what it is today. My dad, who grew up here too, called me a week or two ago after he went to Market Days for the first time and went on and on about how nice it was to get a coffee and walk the sidewalks to see all of the vendors. I could tell he was surprised by the changes.

When I was younger, I couldn't wait to get out of this town. Now, I want to make it better. I don't have an answer. I know, don't complain unless you have a solution.

But let's talk about it. I know there's one out there.

Stephanie Pedersen, senior editor, spedersen@ledger-enquirer.com.

This story was originally published September 9, 2015 at 9:26 PM with the headline "Stephanie Pedersen: My problem with downtown Columbus ."