[Chat] Just some thoughts

[Greg Alexander]

Sonja,

I love the sweeping idea and Front Porch Fridays.  My partner meets with police regularly in DC with his job and having "eyes on the street" is the No. 1 thing the police recommend to fight crime.  As you say, if there are people outside (especially in cold weather), crooks will go elsewhere.  We have been sitting outside more and more on our front porch on Fri and Sat nights (with a bottle of wine) to keep an eye on neighbors.  I hate cold weather, but I can put on a bulky jacket, right?

Great ideas - keep them coming and let's take back our neighborhood!

Greg Alexander
Freelance Writer/Editor
Editor, Mason-Dixon Arrive
2629 Guilford Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21218
410-243-3387
ugagrad93 at yahoo.com
www.gregoryjalexander.com


--- On Thu, 11/20/08, Sonja Kinzer <baltoplays at yahoo.com> wrote:

> From: Sonja Kinzer <baltoplays at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [Chat] Just some thoughts
> To: chat at charlesvillage.info, discussion at charlesvillage.info
> Date: Thursday, November 20, 2008, 12:27 PM
> Hi again,
>  
> I was up a lot last night thinking about some things we
> could do to really send a message that this is a
> neighborhood that is extremely community oriented and more
> importantly, watchful.  I am certain that this string of
> crimes has come after a lot of observation.  If criminals
> know that there are too many people milling around, they
> wont commit crimes here, period.  To that end, I've
> come up with three suggestions that I hope will encourage us
> to be more proactive and give us something concrete we can
> do to immediately make a difference.  The first is pretty
> straight forward.  Here is a link to some very inexpensive
> signage (between $10 - $20) on eBay: 
> http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38.l1313&_nkw=neighborhood+watch+signs&_sacat=See-All-Categories
> I am purchasing at least one for my back garage/fence and
> perhaps another for the front.  Having a simple sign that
> reads, "NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH AREA" is one of the
> simplest ways to do something now.  Police studies
> consistently show that crime is decreased in Watch areas. 
> Whether we actually do set up an official neighborhood watch
> program or not, the signs will at the very least give a
> criminal pause.  
>  
> My second suggestion came about 3am...so bear with me! 
> How about we start a "clean sweep" program?  Yes,
> I'm actually suggesting fighting crime with a broom! 
> How can one do this, pray tell?  Well...first we establish
> a standard schedule.  Monday -8am Tues-9am, Wed 10am,
> Thursday 3pm Friday 4pm.  Okay...so everyone who is
> available on those days...those times...takes to the steps
> and...er...sweeps!  Hear me out!  What we need more than
> anything is a neighborhood with lots of visible NEIGHBORS! 
> Criminals will NOT stop and carjack/rob/assault when there
> are lots of people on the street.  We can't be parked
> outside our homes all day, but we can do what we can,
> right?  Besides, it could be a lot of fun in an old school,
> throw back sort of way.  It's 9am...you head out
> front...turn to your neighbor, give a wave and start your
> day...not bad.  There are many things we can do out
> front...sweep the stairs, sweep our dusty porches...clean
> those
>  doors...whatever.  The point is to make it a regular
> thing and our grandmother's would be proud.  Will you
> join me for  the "Clean Sweep" challenge? 
> Weekends aren't a biggie.  These criminals like the
> weekdays.  For those of us that work 9-5...I didn't
> leave you out!  This brings me to my third suggestion: 
> Charles Village, FRONT PORCH FRIDAYS!  I thought about
> suggesting this closer to the Spring, but heck...why not? 
> Basically the idea would be that on Friday's anytime
> between say, 6pm-8,  we (this time of year) bundle
> up...take our cup of coffee/cocoa and adjourn to the front
> porch.  I live on the 2700 block of Guilford...maybe
> perhaps we invite our neighbors on the 2600 and 2800 blocks
> to walk over and visit.  That's the idea.  Then the
> next week...maybe we take a walk and visit someone else. 
> It could be a fun way to get to know everyone and the
> presence of people on the street would be terrific for
> crime-fighting...So there it
>  is...broom combat and porch hopping...Are we interested in
> trying them out?  Tomorrow is Friday...and I can sweep at
> 4...hope you'll join me or you can just drive by and
> laugh:)  Either way, we're out there and doing
> something.  Thanks for your time,
> Sonja Kinzer
> 2712 Guilford Avenue
> 
> 
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