Pubdate: Sat, 29 Dec 2007
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal (NV)
Copyright: 2007 Reno Gazette-Journal
Contact: http://www.rgj.com/helpdesk/news/letter_to_editor.php
Website: http://www.rgj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/363
Author: Kristin Larsen, Reno Gazette-Journal

LOCALS PARTNER WITH CITY TO REDUCE DRUG ACTIVITY NEAR PAT BAKER PARK

More children and families are spending time at Pat Baker Park these 
days, since a partnership among the Reno Police Department, the city 
of Reno and the residents has decreased drug trafficking.

"It's a changed neighborhood," local property owner Lonnie Feemster 
said. "I'd say about 95 percent of the drug problem has been 
eliminated in the area because of police involvement and cooperation 
of the city manger with the residents."

A July survey of 137 residents revealed that 74 percent said they 
found nearby Pat Baker Park unusable and cited drugs as their top 
concern. Residents and city officials have seen a big change in 
themonths since the effort to regenerate the neighborhood was 
organized in October.

Last Saturday afternoon, about 500 people were drawn to the northeast 
Reno park by hot cocoa, cookies and presents. Police, firemen and 
city officials helped to orchestrate this and two other major events 
at Pat Baker Park to build a sense of community.

"We've seen an increase in children and families using Pat Baker 
Park, and that was a priority of ours," Reno Police Commander Steve 
Pitts said. "What's important, I think the neighborhood understands 
this; we're continuing to build a sense of neighborhood, hold events 
in the park, use (a) certain type of law enforcement and improve the 
atmosphere in that neighborhood."

Pitts said that the Reno Police Department has cleared out two houses 
in the northeast Oliver-Montello neighborhood frequented by 
out-of-town drug seekers. The houses functioned as hubs for narcotics 
dealers; one was across the street from Pat Baker Park, and the other 
was just east of that home.

"We promised the residents we'd get them, and we did," Pitts said. 
"Our directed patrol unit in that area has made some excellent arrests."

The police department's progress is fairly common knowledge in the 
neighborhood.

"They busted the main drug house," Feemster said. "They probably had 
15 to 20 busts of groups of people involved in the drug trafficking 
(in recent months)."

The progress the department has made fighting drug and gang crime in 
the Oliver/Montello area has been achieved in large part through 
coordinating with residents.

"We've had tremendous support from the people living in that 
neighborhood," Pitts said. "Police departments work closely with 
communities to create what we call 'social capital.' Those 
neighborhoods turn around and end up sustaining the quality of life 
because they are engaged in solving the problem."

"I feel significantly better when I go over and work on my property," 
Feemster said. "I see kids playing in the park. I don't see drug 
trafficking. I don't get depressed because I don't see young people 
involved in negative activities. I feel much better, but I don't feel 
like the job is done.

"Now we've got to fix what's below the surface," he said. "We must 
fix the educational disparities, or else we will end up where we were."

Long-Term Solutions

Plans to implement long-term solutions through citizen involvement 
are in the works.

Napoleon Haney, special assistant to the city manager , said the 
neighborhood stakeholder group has been organized into four 
subcommittees that focus on interests and concerns of the residents: 
public safety, economic development, beautification, and parks and recreation.

The first meetings were held in December, and the groups will 
continue to work with city staff to put together action plans for 
desired changes, he said.

"In January, we expect to see a lot of movement as far as projects 
and initiatives ... and getting the community engaged in some of the 
initiatives that the subcommittees will undertake," Haney said. 
"We're just excited about it. This is really the workhorse component 
of the entire thing."

Haney said the subcommittees also are charged with building consensus 
and support among the rest of the neighbors.

"If the citizens aren't engaged, then we'll have limited success, so, 
we would like to see true success with this initiative," Haney said. 
"That's why we're really taking the time to engage the neighborhood."

Feemster, who is a member of the economic development subcommittee, 
said he thinks families and children need more nearby sources of 
transportation and services.

"One of our biggest problems is the kids aren't succeeding because 
they're not getting enough support, and far too many families don't 
have the resources to overcome the educational disparity," Feemster said.

What's Next

Pitts said the Reno Police Department plans to expand the area under 
closed circuit television surveillance in the next month.

Though the footage has not resulted in arrests, Pitts said it has 
served as a deterrent to open-air drug trafficking.

The department is examining the idea of implementing a neighborhood 
parking program where visitors will have to obtain a guest pass from 
a resident to be able to park in the area, Pitts said. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake