INDIANAPOLIS -- People living in one community on Indianapolis' west side say they're trying to improve the condition of their neighborhoods but are frustrated that drug paraphernalia is being sold openly in front of the kids in their community.
Mars Hill leaders say many people are forced to get their food from local convenience stores where things like drug paraphernalia and explicit sex items are available for sale at the cashier counter - at eye level of young children.
Pastor Pete Johnson says parents living in Mars Hill don't want their children to see these items, let alone buy them.
He also says they welcome to business but have reached out to store owners asking them to change how they display those types of items.
"We welcome all business to Mars Hill. We need you. We need you to adopt this neighborhood. We've got awesome businesses surrounding Mars Hill, we want you to give back and we want Phillips 66 to be here. We want their petroleum, we need it," said Pastor Johnson. "We need their milk their candy in their soda pop they've got great chicken down there. But please take the drug paraphernalia and the sexual explicit pills or what have you out of there that's all we are asking."
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