Signs of blight in Flint's fifth ward almost overshadow the neighborhood's brighter days.

"Beautiful neighborhood, it's always been a beautiful neighborhood,” described Eldreama Elderson, who’s called it home for more than 20 years.

But lately, she says, she's scared to even take a stroll.

It's why Elerson joined dozens of her neighbors to ask Emergency Manager Mike Brown to put more police on the streets.

"If something happens, everybody is there for each other, because we feel like that's all we have,” she said.

Brown is pursuing state and federal funding for public safety.  Governor Rick Snyder's public safety proposal includes a 16 percent increase in the state police budget, and Flint has already seen an increase in state police patrols, since Snyder took office.

But still, Flint Police Chief Alvern Lock says he depends on citizens to be the city's eyes and ears.

"The citizens in the neighborhood see those things happening and we're just asking for that information,” Lock said.

Thursday night, Brown assured concerned residents their voices will be heard.  He said the neighborhood ward meetings have been successful in engaging the public.

"It's allowed us to see how we can better communicate with the public, as to the directions we're taking and the decisions we're making."

But it's a tough sell for people who say talk is cheap.

"We've heard it all! But we don't see anything,” Elerson said.