In Rose Park, community leaders are struggling to counter the backlash of a double shooting while residents seek refuge in routine.
"For the last five years we've been working hard on our image and perception," said Ron Whitehead, a former city councilman and current chairman of the Rose Park Community Council. "It sets us back."Councilman Stuart Reid, representative for District 1, which includes Rose Park, states it simply: "It's so sad."
"We are organized, crime has decreased significantly, but in one brief moment of the shooting, all that work has been undermined and the image of the area has been critically damaged," Reid said.
The image of Rose Park painted by Sunday's senseless shootout couldn't be more inaccurate, according to some residents.
Loren Johnstun moved to Rose Park, where the streets radiate out from the neighborhood's center like the petals of a rose, 40 years ago.
"If I had it all to do over again, I'd do the same thing," Johnstun said. "I think it's been an exceptionally good area to raise my kids in. I have six kids, and they've all gone to West High. As far as I can see, they've been as well brought up as some of the others."
What happened at Smith's could happen any where, Johnstun said.
"I blame a lot of it on the media," he said. "Whenever there's anything that does happen, they really blow it up out of proportion."
But the fact is, the shootout has affected people's perceptions of Rose Park.
Reid has heard from people who say they won't shop any longer at the supermarket where Teddy Davis, 16, and Torrie Lambrose, 17, shot and killed each other Sunday. People have told him they've had it and plan to move out of the area.
"With every shooting that leads to a death in our community, our community dies a slow death. It's unfortunate we can't get past bureaucratic barriers and do something to solve this crisis."
In the past 21/2 weeks there have been five shootings in Reid's district involving juveniles, three of whom died.
"What will it require to wake up the system to respond to the needs of the youth and the community to try and solve this problem?" Reid asked.
Whitehead said the Rose Park Community Council plans to lobby the Legislature next January to "take this thing seriously."
Similar frustrations are being voiced by other members of the Rose Park community.
Perhaps the greatest barometer of the community is its churches, where residents have flocked for reassurance and guidance.
The Unity Baptist Church, 1170 W. 1000 North, has held several counseling sessions since the double-slaying Sunday.
"It's been a very terrifying past few days," said John Ward, chairman of the board for the church. "I find myself outside watching little kids go by, making sure they cross the street. This place, it feels like you could cut the tension."
Will Rose Park recoup from this latest showing of violence?
"We've got major problems, we understand that," he said. "But (the people) cannot see the problems. Rose Park can see the problems because it's here without any disguises. It's a vicious circle."