Reducing Crime in Urban Districts

Transcription

1 Reducing Crime in Urban Districts By Bill McLeod, Executive Director Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets 9 Dupont Circle, NW Washington DC (202) execdirector@dupontcircle.biz

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3 Crime and Safety Would-be offenders do not want to get caught. Therefore, they will go to places where they can hide or places they don t think people care about. Sherry Plaster Main Street News, October 1992

4 Broken Windows Theory Consider a building with a few broken windows. If the windows are not repaired, the tendency is for vandals to break a few more windows. Eventually, they may even break into the building, and if it's unoccupied, perhaps become squatters or light fires inside. Or consider a sidewalk. Some litter accumulates. Soon, more litter accumulates. Eventually, people even start leaving bags of trash from take-out restaurants there or breaking into cars." Broken Windows By James Q. Wilson And George L. Kelling, Which Appeared In The March 1982 Issue Of The Atlantic Monthly Fixing Broken Windows: Restoring Order And Reducing Crime In Our Communities, Book By George Kelling And Catherine Coles

5 The G Word Retail Gentrification means it is no longer profitable for a merchant to pay their rising rent or taxes and has to close or move Residential Gentrification means a resident cannot afford the rising rent or taxes and has to move

6 Homeless versus Hanging Homeless people live on the street It is not a crime to play checkers in the park Take the time to get to know homeless people Ask them where they live Ask them what they need Give them food, not money Give them a list of neighborhood services Alcohol is better than crack Work with social services to connect people to programs Work with police to know homeless people If you know the people who are around, then your job is easier if an issue arises

7 Crime Statistics Use Police Statistics: Track Them And Promote Them If Improved Crime Graph: Plot Out Crime Year to Year Compare: Dec 2013 To Dec 2014 But, not all crime is reported Look for trends Tackle the biggest problems (ones you can effect) Then new issues will emerge

8 Crime Statistics reported to the FBI Homicide Sex Abuse Robbery Excluding Gun Robbery with Gun Assault Dangerous Weapon Excluding Gun Assault Dangerous Weapon with Gun Burglary Theft Theft from Auto Stolen Auto Arson

9 Crime Memory Actual Crime versus Perception Of Safety Over The Years People Recall All Crimes At Once: Avalanching!

10 Assess The Problem Interview Key Stakeholders: Residents, Merchants, And Long-Time Building Owners Walk The Area Daytime Nighttime Weekends

11 Assess The Built Environment Buildings Empty Lots Parking Lots Streetscape Utilities Streetlights Sidewalks Street Signs Transit and Transit Shelters Trees Tree Boxes Gateways (Sculpture, Buildings, Etc.) Litter Graffiti

12 Build Relationships Elected Officials Government Agencies: DOT, Public Works, Etc. Police Department Merchants Eyes During Open Hours Residents Eyes After Hours Building Owners? then get them to do the work

13 Build Relationships Homeless People Drug Dealers Prostitutes

14 Make your office welcoming for Officers

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17 Take Over Maintenance (if it is not being done well and you have the capacity) Empty Lots Streetscape Parks/Public Space Tree Boxes Litter Graffiti Parking Lots

18 Murals: my soapbox Good Celebrates The Community By Noted Artists Bad Irrelevant To The Community Or Offends Some Groups Ugly Poorly Executed Or Out Of Style, Not Maintained Angry Exclusive versus Inclusive Subliminal Message Does It Mask A Lack Of Retail Or Is A Building Missing?

19 Fixing Broken Windows: Good Maintenance Says Someone Cares Banners Flower Baskets Sidewalk Maintenance Trash Receptacles Park Maintenance Trim Trees Lower Limbs To Improve Sightlines 8 Or Higher

20 Fixing Broken Windows: Social Services Can Help Nuisance Businesses Public Drunkenness Single Sales of Beer/Liquor Public Urination Prostitution: Brothel, Massage Parlor, or Streetwalkers Drug Dealers And Users Crack Houses Homeless

21 Fixing Broken Windows: A Drastic Approach: Hiring Police

22 Crime Technology Crime Cameras Shot Spotters Private Cameras

23 Fixing Broken Windows: Long-term Fixes in a Progressive World Wrap-Around Services for Homeless People Mixed-income housing Working with ex-offenders Expunge ex-offenders records Changing job applications to assist ex-offenders (remove the box) Job training programs GED, trade schools, community colleges, IT training Working with the judicial system to fix the cradle-to-prison pipeline Somehow stop the view that being on vacation is a rite of passage

24 Educate about Good Design Sign Guidelines Façade Guidelines Landscaping Guidelines

25 Offer Incentives to Improve Design Signs Grants Façade Grants Lighting Grants (Exterior And Display Window)

26 Offer Incentives to Improve Design Roll-Down Grates/ Security Bars Grants

27 Better Security Bars

28 Offer Incentives to Improve Design Glass Grants

29 Motivate Through Awards Programs Façade Awards Sign Awards Window Display Contests

30 Establish A Special Assessment District BID Clean Team Landscaping Team Safety Team Hospitality Ambassadors

31 Ask the city for a new streetscape But be sure to maintain it

32 Safety Education National Crime Prevention Council McGruff The Crime Dog Educational Flyers Residents Businesses Construction Companies Parking Attendants Parking Tickets Educate To Reduce Theft from Parked Cars

33 Marketing: Develop A Media Plan Sell the reduction in crime! Re-brand The Area Cordel > New Cordel 8th Street, SE > Barracks Row Lower Shaw > Mount Vernon Triangle Website, newsletter, Social Media Hold A Press Conference at City Hall Mail Press Releases: Paper And Electronic Lunch with a reporter Write Articles For Community Papers

34 Organize Special Events Organize A Police Appreciation Event Police Week Celebrate It And Fundraise For It National Night Out Turn Your Lights On First Tuesday In August October Is Crime Prevention Month then Late Night Shopping Street Festivals Taste Of Downtown Third Thursday Arts Walk

35 Gym, Tan, Laundry 1. Assess 2. Address 3. Adapt 4. Re-Assess 5. Re-Address 6. Crime will Re-Adapt 7. Repeat as necessary

36 Five Things You Can Do Today To Improve Safety Attend Existing Police Meetings at the Police station Pass Out A Crime Phone Tree to Merchants Assign Crime Block Captains And Meet Monthly Organize A Neighborhood-Wide Police Meeting Monthly Or Quarterly Plan a Night Out cookout to celebrate Police

37 Affecting Change There Is No Silver Bullet Address Safety From A Number Of Angels 1. Assess The Current Conditions And Develop A Plan 2. Build Relationships To Address Current Issues 3. Improve Maintenance 4. Educate Everyone About Safety 5. Organize Special Events To Promote The Area 6. Celebrate Your Successes

38 Reducing Crime in Urban Districts By Bill McLeod, Executive Director Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets 9 Dupont Circle, NW Washington DC (202) execdirector@dupontcircle.biz

39 Please complete the session evaluation on the conference app before you leave the room. Thank you!