Crime Reduction: A community responsibility
By Dorothy Inman-Johnson
Special to the Outlook
In 2015 when I was researching data for my book, Lessons from America’s Best and Worst Cities, I discovered the Area Vibes website that assigns a livability score to American cities based on ratings in seven (7) categories. Those categories are Amenities, Cost of Living, Crime, Education, Employment, Housing, and Weather. In 2014 Tallahassee fared very well in the rankings, and was listed #43 among the 100 Most Livable Cities in the U.S. That was quite an honor considering there are about 20,000 cities or incorporated areas in America. However in 2015, though our city received an A+ for amenities, A for cost of living, A for education, A for weather, B for housing, and C for employment, the F rating it received for crime knocked it off the most livable cities list; even though it was recognized that year as one of the Ten (10) All-America Cities in the country by the National Civic League. The livability score for crime was based largely on high violent and property crime rates.
Statewide crime statistics released two weeks ago caught us by surprise when we learned Tallahassee’s crime rate last year had the highest per capita increase in the state, driven by the rate of growth in property crime. The good news in the report was a 13 percent drop in violent crime; an area in which law enforcement has focused a great deal of attention. The report was followed by a lot of finger pointing and assigning blame by City officials. It is important to note, however, that crime is not just the responsibility of law enforcement. There are many factors that account for an increase or decrease in crime, just as several factors are taken into consideration in determining the City’s livability score by national rating organizations. So I checked the Area Vibes website to see if our livability score had changed. It had. Based on most recent data Tallahassee still has an A+ in amenities and an A in weather; but that’s where the good news ends. We received a rating of F in education, employment, and crime; with a C in cost of living, and D+ in housing. I, of course, feel there’s no place better than Tallahassee to live; and, therefore, disagree with the rating. The report does show, however, that we have work to do as a community.
I was pleased to learn from both the Tallahassee Police Department and the Leon County Sheriff that they are already hard at work mobilizing the community to address the problems. The majority of property crime is committed by those between the ages of 16 and 35; and about 47 percent of Tallahassee’s population is under the age of 25. The greatest concentration of criminal activities, according to law enforcement, is in neighborhoods with high rates of poverty and joblessness; though higher income areas are not free of the problem in particular categories of crime. Sheriff McNeil’s Chief in charge of Youth, Audrey Smith, and Police Chief DeLeo are focusing attention on the Bond, Griffin Heights, South City/ Apalachee Ridge neighborhoods in encouraging the involvement of area churches, schools, businesses, community organizations, and residents to attend meetings to help develop plans for crime free zones in their community. So far, they have been disappointed by the lack of involvement by ministers of churches in these communities. Each neighborhood must take ownership in helping to weed out crime and create programs and opportunities that give young people hope. But after the talk and planning is done, people want to see action.
In the late 1980s and early 90s, Tallahassee was on the forefront with innovative crime fighting and police/ community relations that included the Weed and Seed Program, community policing, satellite police offices in high crime areas, active neighborhood watch programs, summer youth jobs, and excellent after-school youth programs at schools and recreation centers. We know what to do, and all of us have a part to play. So let’s stop pointing fingers and get busy.
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