HOUSTON Even in the face of criminal charges, residents in Houston's District B continue to stand behind their councilmember.
Councilmember Jarvis Johnson faces a felony charge of evading arrest, but that doesn t matter to lifelong Fifth Ward resident Joe Ballard.
Police stop people around here all the time, so that doesn t prove anything, Ballard said.
Abandoned houses and weeded lots are a common sight in the area. Frustration is a common sentiment. Some residents fear Johnson s arrest could become a distraction to an area in desperate need of services.
I hope this doesn t hinder what we re trying to get done out here, said Kathy Daniels, who has raised a family in the Fifth Ward. Despite her concerns, she believed Johnson will survive the scandal. This is just news today, but tomorrow something else will happen that s bigger than this.
A community activist speaking on the councilmember s behalf said Johnson was insistent he did nothing wrong.
We stand shoulder to shoulder with Johnson and we will accept nothing else than these charges being thrown out, said Deric Muhammad.
Houston s Fifth Ward remains rich in history, which fuels pride for many who live there.
People like Joe Ballard believe the community won t abandon one of its own. He s one of us, and at the end of the day, we re going to stand behind him no matter what.
Only time will tell if their support will make a difference.
