North Highlands Man Sends Colorful Message Over Safety Concerns
NORTH HIGHLANDS (CBS13) – At the Fairway Estates mobile home park there's one that's not alike.
"I'm expressing myself rather than getting angry," said James Forcione who has lived there since 1998.
After being threatened in front of his home by a stranger, Forcione decided to take a stand, invoking his First Amendment right and putting brightly colored cut outs on the side of his mobile home. They read, "I'm protecting my life and Liberty" and "I don't feel safe in my home."
"They stole my tools. I caught them stealing his property," Forcione said in reference to the crime in his neighborhood.
Others in the park also agreed things around there just aren't right.
"I know the way he feels because I did live here and I am a concerned citizen," said Sheri Fox, who now helps take care of old friends in the park. "There are elderly people here we just don't know what people are going to do."
Management said they're cracking down and enforcing the rules, but can't be around 24/7.
"When you come in here, it's a gated community, you should feel safe," said Lester Ashford, the maintenance supervisor. "Shouldn't have to worry about anything and if people would look out for their neighbors then we wouldn't have this problem,"
While many neighbors agree there is a problem with crime and late night illegal activities, some neighbors don't agree with Forcione's actions and think he should take down his message.
Others say that's his Liberty as an American and hope to see order restored in the park.
"You got to give them credit because that is freedom of speech and it is his right, but unfortunately if nobody else sees it, just the people that live here nothing is going to happen," Fox said.