Strengthen Community Safety
The Strengthen Community Safety focus area identified the following issues that need to be addressed by the community:
Support Safe Neighborhoods & Schools
We need to help all of our kids feel safe in school. Thirty nine percent of key informants and 29% of households identified unsafe environment as a major or moderate concern. Crime was also identified as a major or moderate concern by 65% of key informants and 45% of households. Many seniors are afraid to go out of their homes, especially at night. Education is the key to safer community if we have more after school programs we will have a decrease in youth crime. See pages 64, 65, 69, 104, 105, 106, 108.
Facilitate Neighborhood Self-Sufficiency
We need to break the cycle of crime through helping neighborhoods support their neighbors. Teen pregnancy creates immediate problems for the young mother but also sets up many challenges for the teen mom and her child to be economically successful. Sixty six percent of the key informants and 36% of the households identified teen pregnancy as a major or moderate concern. See pages 105, 106, 107,108, 109, 110, 112.
Unite Diverse Cultures
Racial and ethnic discrimination was identified by 34% of the households as a major or moderate concern. There were many discriminatory comments listed in the survey. Racism and discrimination create more safety issues. See pages 60, 69, 114, 115, 119.
Remove Community Threats
Children are our most vulnerable. We need to provide other support for our most vulnerable youth besides gangs. Gangs are a community issue and the problems associated with gangs need to be addressed. Methamphetamine is a growing problem and the issues related to meth use must be addressed. See pages 101, 102, 104, 106, 108.