Creating a comprehensive safety plan

[nmeyer]

At the last GINI taskforce meeting, we discussed our group's goal of creating a comprehensive plan that brings the neighborhood, business community, social service organizations, IMPD, and city departments together to make the near Eastside a safer place to live.

Since public safety can encompass so many different areas, I thought I'd get us brainstorming on what areas we might focus our "actions" on. My thoughts so far is that we need to look at:

1. environmental/housing --identify ways to address any immediate problems, etc.
2. youth issues -gang activity, etc.
3. current community relationships - how are different organizations working/not working together, etc.
4.more thoughts...?

What do you see as potential actions in these areas?

[joe]

Thanks for getting the ball rolling Nancy.

Joe

[JT@JHBCC]

A good book to read is "The Tipping Point." It discusses how small changes can make a very big difference and uses the NYC subway system as one example. In the 1980s it was a haven for crimes, assaults and robbery. How did they address this problem? They went after toll jumpers and those doing graffiti on the trains. Huh? Taggers and fare jumpers, you got to be kidding was my initial reaction.

It was those issue that gave a sense of permission for other more deviant crimes to happen. It strongly relates this to the “Broken Window” paradigm of social change. It has caused me to wonder that we need to attack the low hanging fruit of crime as a means to fighting the really bad stuff that can happen. I have the book if you would like to borrow it.

James Taylor
John H. Boner Community Center, Inc.
317.633.8210
jtaylor@enn.org

[JoshBowling]

I think that is great. What are those "little" things that seem to give permission on the Near East Side? I think it may be code compliance and abandoned housing stuff. I often tell people that if their street or alley looks like the neighbors do not care, then they are inviting others to not care as well. One of the things that we talked about at Tuesdays Public Safety Action Team was that we need to educate neighbors on the simple things that they could do to help make their neighborhoods safe, i.e. leave your porch lights on, put your address on your garage visible from the alley, know all of your neighbors, etc...

[kbowling]

I agree with you Josh.The neighborhood looks like crap and so people treat it like crap. If those of us who live here don't appear to care, then those who don't certainly aren't going to care. Though, it is hard, because there are many of us who do care, but are discouraged. I will go on walks with the kids and we pick up trash along the way. Sometimes I feel like what is the point? I know it is a small thing, but it's hard to want to keep doing anything if it doesn't seem to make a difference. I think that's why many people's attitudes are like "why bother" How do we encourage people to care?

[Tyson]

I also pick up trash on walks and on "my half" of my block (and the alley) and it makes a difference for me. It's a conversation starter. My neighbors - meaning folks in my neighborhood and folks who drive through my neighborhood, not necessarily my adjacent neighbors - have responded to me over the past year with gratitude, hostility, ridicule, and indifference. But, I have met a few of my neighbors, and I am "known" by a lot of my neighbors. I feel like my consistency has also motivated others to take small steps of their own. Two neighbors have commented that "this end of the block is quiet." There is still crime - criminals still filter through my block, but they sense it's not OK to linger at "my" end of the street. It's slightly different.

KIB has a program called Operation My Town Adopt-A-Block http://www.kibi.org/programs/litter_cle ... /index.htm
which has some perks and benefits, such as free garbage bags and work gloves for participants, and the opportunity to meet other local neighborhood leaders.

I think it's hard to not be discouraged. I bought a pikstik http://www.pikstik.com/ at Fusek's and carry a 5 gallon bucket around to make the job more fun(?) and easier on my back. I wave at school bus drivers. My neighbor Joe picks up trash too, so I don't feel alone in my quest for clean streets. Consistency is key. I've been surprised by the overall positive effect of doing a little bit outside the bounds of my "box."

[nmeyer]

I totally agree--it's the small things that count and really make a difference in the long term. Kudos to you, Tyson, for taking that initiative on your own block. I think the KIB program sounds great--it's something our NESCO neighborhood leaders should take a look at.

I'm also curious about how to convince others who may be skeptical that simple actions like those really do count. Any ideas on how to encourage/motivate and get more participation in such programs?

[kbowling]

KIB has a program called Operation My Town Adopt-A-Block http://www.kibi.org/programs/litter_cle ... /index.htm
which has some perks and benefits, such as free garbage bags and work gloves for participants, and the opportunity to meet other local neighborhood leaders.

I don't know a ton about it, but our block is part of this program. It seems like a great program. We've had block clean up days and even recieved some of the rewards. My family planted a tree in our yard about two years ago exactly, as a result of the block being rewarded with grant money and able to buy things to make the street more beautiful.

Unfortunately, I think this is where homeownership becomes the problem, or whatever you want to call it. If people don't own their homes, they aren't going to care about some award and grant to be able to plant a few shrubs, trees, or flowers on their block. They may not live there next month so who cares. This is my opinion of course, for what its worth.