Effort of community members with the police manages to reduce crime and homelessness
Local authorities in South Los Angeles gathered this week to celebrate the second year of the launch of the South LA Community Safety Initiative (SLACSI) program that aims to maintain safety in low-income and communities of color.
The initiative’s main purpose is to recruit local residents to maintain tranquility in 12 parks in South Los Angeles.
Six of these locations are in District 8, which is represented by Councilman Marqueece
Harris-Dawson.
His spokesman, Fernando Rodríguez, indicated that since the councilman took office in 2015, he made the issue of crime reduction his priority.
“The idea focused not only on police tactics but also on community relations,” he explained.
For the summer of 2019, Councilman Harris-Dawson launched the SLACSI initiative for the first time, which at the end of the period proved to be useful.
Violent crime overall fell by 8% in 2019 compared to the previous year when the plan was not underway.
The shootings dropped from 3 to 1; while thefts from 53 to 45.
Now, like last year, South Los Angeles is preparing to start the initiative during the summer and thus have the parks safe.
“If there are gang incidents, like shootings, the idea is for not only the police to respond but also the workers to intervene [o líderes] local, ”said Rodríguez.
One of the area’s residents, Maria Rutledge, said she was glad to see this positive change since she has lived in the area for many years.
“Before, we thought there was no hope after the riots … We had been abandoned and there was no investment in our community,” said the 67-year-old resident.
“Now I see the park and [el concejal] Harris-Dawson has empowered us. I am very happy that this initiative has reached our community ”.
Rutledge said that if no changes had been seen by the community in the past, it was not due to a lack of interest from the residents, but that they always felt abandoned to any issue that had to do with respect and dignity.
“People of color have a lot to offer and we also put [de nuestra parte] but we don’t get much back, “he said.
“[Ahora] We are very happy to be able to use this park without gangs or homeless people here… Good that they are also helping the homeless during this time of COVID-19 ”.
Councilman Harris-Dawson said at the conference that when there is a shooting or a crime, not only do victims suffer but so do family members and it is important to find a way to heal that wound. For this they have created healing circles.
“When something happens to your sister or your uncle, you are also hurting. And so, these healing circles are designed to speak and support each other, “said the councilor while pointing to a healing circle that was taking place at the time.
Their spokesperson indicated that each park is responsible for having its own community group, which is made up of residents from the nearby area.
Los Angeles District 8 is made up of nearly 60% Latinos.
“They are the ones who usually know the people who come to the park and if they see them as drinking, they can tell them to stay away,” Rodríguez said.
He indicated that about 80% of community group participants from last year will be participating this time as vigilantes.
Rodríguez said this is a somewhat better version of seeing police officers walking everywhere.
He added that it is important that they are the same residents of the area who try to keep the peace because this way people can identify with more confidence.
The conference was held at the Algin Sutton Recreation Center in South Los Angeles.
