To the Editor:
In a previous letter to the Independent, I pointed out my concern for the safety of our permanent residents, OU students and, of course, our police officers.
This is a safety issue of course, but it is also a quality-of-life issue effecting the ability of all of our families, especially R-1 neighborhoods, to not have additional worries and risks added to their everyday lives.
I will not point out or limit my concern to the first out of town, for profit company, to move into our community and cause risk to the neighborhood residents. I am also concerned for the three police officers who had to risk their safety to chase down and take into custody a convicted felon with an outstanding warrant who had assaulted an officer in the Columbus area, and whose finger he bit the end off of.
As of Jan. 24, even though I had conversations with several elected officials, the fact that a second house had opened at 34 Lorene, and that a drug overdose occurred at that address, and I believe was on the sidewalk in that area for our parents and young children to be exposed to, this event was never mentioned to me. This drug overdose was on Jan. 12 at 34 Lorene, which the Police Chief verified for me in a conversation on Thursday, Jan. 29.
I am not attempting to imply any cover up, however, on the following dates no one mentioned what had occurred on our city streets on Jan. 12, I spoke with Director Stone on Jan. 14, the Mayor on Jan. 15, Code Officer on Jan. 16, City Attorney on Jan. 23, and several Council members on Jan. 27.
Let me say this, the Mayor and President of Council will not suggest a well-advertised Town Hall meeting to hopefully expose this problem to my fellow citizens. The Planning Commission encouraged the few folks in attendance to alert the public and email Code Director Riggs with any concerns. This makes me concerned and skeptical that they may want this to unfold without most folks becoming aware of this potentially dangerous situation, not even potential. Note — felon taken into custody at 51 Madison and drug overdose on our streets at 34 Lorene — these properties are owned by Eric and Ally Rapp Lee of The Athens Real Estate Company.
If Council doesn’t take proper measures this may come to your street, along with a reduction of your property values, but more importantly felons of any stripe, robbers, thieves and pedophiles are possible. We just can’t foresee the future problems.
Maybe it’s time for some of you to speak up. If you are so inclined, the next meeting is Wednesday, March 18, at noon on the 3rd floor of City Hall.
Jack Stauffer
Elmwood Place, Athens
This letter was amended on March 23, 2026, to include information about the location of events and owners of the houses involved. The information was omitted originally until it could be verified.