Committee Report CR-7

The Civic Unity Committee conducted a public meeting on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at six o'clock and thirty-five minutes 5 P.M. in the Lincoln Way Community Room, 44A Lincoln Way, Cambridge.

The purpose of the meeting was to initiate a conversation to strengthen the Lincoln Way community for a safer neighborhood.

Present at the meeting were Councillor Marjorie Decker, Chair of the Committee, Councillor Larry Ward, Deputy Superintendent of Police Mike Walsh, Superintendent of Police Steven Williams, Sergeant Kathy Murphy, Community Policing Officers Ed Burke and Phil Chu, Detective Steven Magalhaes, Youth Family Services Unit, Cambridge Police Department, Melissa Castillo, Assistant Director - Youth Programs, Department of Human Services (DHSP), Omar Bandar, Aide to Councillor Decker, Glenis Thomas, Lincoln Way Property Manager, Kurt Tommy, Deputy Director of Operations, Cambridge Housing Authority, Elaine DeRosa, Director, CEOC, Shirley Santos, North Cambridge Crime Task Force and Donna P. Lopez, Deputy City Clerk.

Also present were Annette Taylor, 5 Lincoln Way, Claudette Orcel, 19 Lincoln Way, Edouarzin Yvose, 10 Lincoln Way, Solinette Etienne, 21 Lincoln Way, Madelin Arroyo, Assistant Teacher, Fitzgerald Community Schools, 12 Lincoln Way, Victoria Bergland, 43 Lincoln Way, Yvonne Dottin-Cardoso, 30 Lincoln Way, Marie Guerrier, 47 Lincoln Way,

and read the call of the meeting.  She stated that she is holding a series of meetings in the community due to the rise of violent crime in North Cambridge.  It is more productive to conduct small meeting where the community can be heard.  She explained that this meeting will be reported to the full City Council and she urged residents to come to the City Council to share their ideas.  She asked Superintendent of Police Steven Williams to give an overview of crime and outreach efforts.

Superintendent Williams stated that all police officer's work together to make the community safe.  The police department has worked with the CHA to do outreach to the youth of the community.  The outreach has been done in North Cambridge and in Area 4.  Informal interaction has been done at the youth centers.  He informed the committee that the most prominent cars that are vandalized are Hondas and Camry's.  A robbery took place in the area of Raymond Street and Upland Road.  Three arrests were made; one of the suspects was from Cambridge, but not from the area where the robbery occurred.  Sergeant Murphy informed the committee that two soccer summer nights were held at Russell Field.  There were 130-140 youth that participated.  The community policing made door-to-door visits at Jefferson Park and Lincoln Way.  Story Walks were held at the Peabody School.  The pools got extensive use.  Walking groups got acquainted with the youth in the area.  Superintendent Williams stated that these programs would be replicated next summer.  A youth academy was created where eighteen youth participated.  This program taught what it means to be a police officer.  The complaints received about the youth stopped because the youth became involved in these summer programs.

Deputy Superintendent Walsh spoke to the community about reporting incidents to the police.  He gave the police website:  cambridgepolice.org.  There is a drug hot line and a texting tip line for incidents of crime.  He stated that there are many ways to address crime tips and police visibility.  If there are incidents identified problem solving mechanisms including the stakeholders are developed to create solutions and ownership.

Victoria Bergland asked if the flyers were distributed to Lincoln Way and the surrounding neighbors.  Councillor Decker responded that outreach was done to just Lincoln Way.  A large community meeting was held previously and blame was aimed at residents of public housing.  This is the reason why she decided as chair of the Civic Unity Committee to conduct a series of meetings in the community.  Three weeks ago a Civic Unity Committee meeting was held at Jefferson Park.  In the future meetings will be held at Fresh Pond and Walden Square.  Councillor Decker stated that her intent was to empower Lincoln Way residents so that they could be heard.  Ms. Bergland suggested smaller meetings and to welcome residents outside of Lincoln Way.  She commented that Rindge Towers and Walden Square are not public housing.  There is a stigma about public housing that needs to be changed.  She suggested starting with smaller meetings and including private home owners.

Councillor Decker stated that her goal is to continue to foster community.  This meeting is for informational exchange.  Sergeant Murphy stated that the police department does not receive a lot of complaints about Lincoln Way.  Complaints were received about older kids drinking stated Councillor Decker.

Ms. Bergland suggested a program that included computers and inside basketball.  There are a lot of programs at Gately, but the youth are not participating in these programs.

Ms. Castillo passed out the "Cambridge Youth Program Research Guide".  The Department of Human Services has programs for all groups including pre-school, infants, Community Schools (Fitzgerald at the Peabody K-6), seniors and activities at the youth centers, including pre-teen and teen.  She highlighted the programs at the Gately: 9 - 10 pre-teen program, middle school partnership program, night teen program, leaders in action and peer-to-peer and peer-to-adult program.  Homework help is given at the Peabody after school child care program.

Ms. Castillo further stated that the West Cambridge Youth Center at 680 Huron Avenue is holding its opening celebration on September 2

Ms. Annette Taylor asked when and where you can sign up for the programs at the West Cambridge Youth Center.  Ms. Castillo responded that you can sign up now.  Registration is on line also.  The same application is used in all five youth centers.

Councillor Ward suggested that copies of the "Cambridge Youth Program Research Guide" be sent to all residents.   Ms. Bergland suggested delivering the "Cambridge Youth Program Research Guide" to Lincoln Way.  Ms. Castillo stated that the Resource Guide is sent to all schools and is published in the Chronicle.  She suggested scheduling a registration session for residents at Lincoln Way for the West Cambridge Youth Center.

Councillor Decker informed the committee that the Center for Families is geared to new moms.  It includes a drop-in play group for toddlers.  At this time Councillor Decker asked Shirley Santos to give an update of the North Cambridge Crime Task Force.

Ms. Santos stated that the North Cambridge Crime Task Force sponsored National Night Out.  She spoke of the soccer nights.  Recruitment for soccer night was done at Jefferson Park, Walden Square and Lincoln Way.  Fresh Pond youth participated in the soccer nights.  Jefferson Park is sponsoring a back-to-school event in September.  Walden Square and Cornerstone are having barbeques.

At this time the committee heard from Kurt Tommy, Deputy Director of Operations for the Housing Authority who gave an overview of the relationship between the police department and the housing authority.  In the spring there was a concern about crime in the area.  The housing authority worked with the police to foster a relationship with the residents.  The involvement of the residents is vital, he said.  He urged residents to get involved to help keep the area safe.  He stated that the CHA is planning lighting and camera improvements.  The CHA has a computer lab program, workforce and day care at Jefferson Park.

Again Ms. Bergland stated that the negativity of the public housing stigma needs to be changed.  Councillor Ward asked how this stigma could be changed.  Ms. Bergland stated that clarification is needed as to where public housing begins and ends.  Public housing residents are hard working people.  Trouble starts from outside.  Lincoln Way is quiet; residents know each other.  Sergeant Murphy stated that police calls are recorded as incidents by outside individuals.  She commented most police officers grew up in public housing.

Councillor Decker encouraged residents to talk to Elaine DeRosa about breaking the negative stigma.  The police commissioner stated that statistically crime is not occurring from residents in public housing.  This meeting will be reported to the City Council.  If residents wish to discuss this matter it must be on the City Council Agenda.  The City Council needs to hear public housing residents concerns on this matter.  She suggested e-mailing comments to the City Clerk's office.

Councillor Ward spoke about addressing the negative stigma.  He suggested reviewing successful anti-stigma campaigns.  Cambridge can look at ways to apply the successful anti-stigma campaigns to the public housing issue.

Elaine DeRosa stated that CEOC would help to get resident concerns to the City Council.  Child care and transportation can be arranged.  At the meeting previously held hateful comments were made about public housing - this needs to be silenced.  She suggested residents send comments to the City about the Community Preservation Act money allocation to affordable housing to the public hearing to be held on September 2, 2009.

Councillor Decker thanked all those present for their participation.  The meeting adjourned at seven o'clock and forty-eight minutes P.M.