February 6, 2009

District 8 Report

Do You Know Your Neighbor?

By Councilmember Rose Herrera
Special to the Times

District 8 is a dynamic community made up of diverse neighborhoods, unique shops, beautiful parks and sprawling hillsides. It is a great place to call home. Our strength is rooted in our shared commitment to protect the quality of life of our community.

There are many indicators that we can use as tools to inform us about overall health of a neighborhood. Employment data, housing prices, and police and fire data are primary examples. While these numbers tell part of the story, we need to look beyond the numbers to see if there is more that can be done to make our community safer. Each one of us can make a difference.

The City of San Jose has a long history of partnering with residents to protect their neighborhoods. One thing we know is that the police department cannot do it alone. The San Jose Police Department strives to make our city safe anywhere, anytime and work with residents so that they share the responsibility for public safety. The police welcome active participation of the neighborhoods to report suspicious activity. Fortunately there are already many concerned citizens in Evergreen that look out for our community and report crimes. By actively reporting crimes, the police department can identify trends and "hot spots." With that trend data, they are able to ramp up police presence if needed.

Our San Jose Police Department does a tremendous job limiting crime and keeping response times low as the city continues to grow to almost a million residents. From 2007-2008, the average response time for a Priority 1 call was 5.9 minutes. That is faster than 2006-2007 levels by 1.2 minutes. Priority 1 calls are those calls where there is a present or imminent danger to life or a major property loss. It is reassuring to know that when you dial 9-1-1, the police do respond quickly. SJPD works extremely hard to solve all issues affecting residents but occasionally due to a high volume of calls they are forced to prioritize putting life-threatening issues above others.

There are many tools in the city's toolbox to fight crime. We always think of police officers fighting crime but often it's a team effort involving many city departments. Other departments that get involved in fighting crime are the city's Code Enforcement Department, Anti-Graffiti Pro-gram and Crime Prevention Program. Their work gives residents more options on how to address crime and blight in their neighborhood.

One easily preventable crime that is on the rise is identity theft. SJPD has given a few tips to protect yourself; if the card scanner looks at all compromised or damaged, use a credit card instead of an ATM card, make sure to shred all your receipts, do not just throw them in the trash, and lastly actively monitor your account online for any suspicious charges. Protecting yourself is one step in fighting crime, the other is protecting your neighbors.

There are a few key questions we should ask ourselves that will help create a safer neighborhood. Do I know everyone on my street? Would someone notice a suspicious vehicle or person on our street? Do I have the phone numbers of my neighbors? If your answer's "no" to all these questions you might want to think about organizing a neighborhood event. We share the responsibility in keeping our neighborhoods safe and National-Night Out is a great start for organizing neighborhoods to come together and to form a closer knit group.

Another simple option is to set up a Neighborhood Watch Program. Neighborhood Watch teaches the community "to discourage, deter and prevent crimes such as burglary, auto theft, car break-ins, and personal crimes which often occur in or near homes. Issues such as vandalism, graffiti, drug dealing and gang activity are also addressed when applicable." This program empowers neighbors to take notice of suspicious activity and to report them effectively to get results.

Living in a safe neighborhood with unique places to shop, parks to play in, and open space trails are the cornerstones of Evergreen. It is where we call home. As we take inventory of our quality of life and the areas we can improve, your involvement is the critical link. Everyone can make a positive difference. My office is always here to assist you. I can be reached at 408-535-4908 or district8@sanjoseca.gov.

Upcoming Safety Related Events:

- School Pedestrian Safety Committee
Location: City Hall Tower Tower 847. Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2009. Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Contact Winnie Pagan at Winnie.Pagan@sanjoseca.gov. Phone:408-535-6824

- Mayor's Gang Prevention Task Force
Location: Wing Public Rooms 118-120. Date: February 27, 2009. Time: 7:30AM to 9:00AM. Contact Khoa Nguyen at Khoa.Nguyen@sanjoseca.gov. Phone: 408-535-4813

- Safety Fair
Date: March 28th, 2009. Location: Evergreen Community Center 4860 San Felipe Rd. , San Jose, CA 95135
Time: 8am-4:30pm. Contact: (408) 270-2220