Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Daniel Verinder on June 2, 2009 at 5:33pm

Thanks for spearheading this, Joseph. I like the original ideas submitted. I think some ways to get things started might be:

A (or some?) take back the night style campaigns where we walk the corridor or a length of it as a group with candles and honor the victims. If any of them suffered financially (stolen money, medical/legal bills), maybe we could raise money. And/or we could invite them and their loved ones to talk. We could similarly invite sympathetic politicians. We could use this as an opportunity to pass out whistles, etc.

Similarly, have some education events where, as a group, we walk the length of the corridor, hand out whistles to other walkers and info about what has happened and ways to stay safe, and invite people to join the group. Perhaps we could offer to escort folks. Wasn't there a similar idea tried from Forest Hills T for a while?

I think the only way to encourage folks to congregate in the corridor is to have events. We could have frisbee day, walking days, walk your dog days, etc. Other than that, I don't know how to get the idea out. Similary, I've never had much luck engaging strangers in Beantown to say "howdy, neighbor", but when I do have luck, it's usually by leading by example.

Could we maybe try to have some sort of Corridor neighborhood watch? Maybe folks on the periphery could congregate and check for activity on a regular basis, or maybe neighbors could put stickers on their door designating them as someone to talk to if others see or are in trouble, kind of like the safe zone stickers they used to do for kids and LGBT folks.

Lastly, maybe we could set up, online or through meetings, a sort of "walk-share", like a ride-share where walkers, bikers, T-riders, etc. find buddies to travel with to feel safer. Maybe we could have in the park mixers where folks get to know each other and arrange to travel together.

Whatever we do, I feel like frequency is key. A couple of one-offs, in my opinion, will probably not work, ultimately.

What do others think?

-Daniel







A) Encourage and facilitate the usage of the park by neighbors go for walks, play Frisbee, read a book, have a picnic - you get the idea - in the park. Positive activity displaces negative activity.

B) Make those who use the park aware of recent assaults 3/15/2009 and 4/21/2009 and have them call 911 when they see suspicious behavior.

C) Especially after dark, educate and encourage park user to use common sense and stay in well lit areas; to not talk on their mobile phones or listen to their ipod as it says - I'm not really paying attention. When possible walk with others. By walking with other it's greatly decreases the chance of something happening.

D) Coordinate door knocking on all the perimeter homes of the park to let them know about the assaults and ask them to keep an eye out for and call 911 if they witness suspicious behavior.

E) Coordinate the engagement of park user who walk their dogs to educate them about the assaults, give them whistles, and ask them to call 911 if they see suspicious behavior.

F) Encourage neighborly engagement. To have park users look each other in the eye and say - Good morning/afternoon/evening. Looking people in the eye and saying hello is wonderful thing to do but also takes away the anonymity away of people who may be up to no good which is powerful deterrent.

G) Invite anyone and every who in interested in Park Safety and enjoyment to join this group, The Friends South West Corridor Park.

Permalink Reply by Joseph Porcelli (Chief Neighbor) on June 2, 2009 at 5:38pm

I talked the Sgt. a couple minutes ago and he said, as the gazette reported a couple of incidents on the perimeter - but not a rash of additional incidents.

My thoughts are, and to keep it sustainable, to hand out whistles to regular park users and give them some training on how to call 911 - like people who walk their dogs.

Permalink Reply by Daniel Verinder on June 3, 2009 at 11:24am

Sounds good to me. What do we need to do to get started? I myself might need to learn the details of how to call 911. I presume this means who to call to get the right jurisdiction? Here is one place that sells whistles:

http://www.shopamericanwhistle.com/index.html

Do folks know of other places? How many should we get? How should we fund this?

Permalink Reply by gloria fredericks on June 3, 2009 at 12:08pm

I think that's a great idea. As someone who has been very scared walking in the park in broad daylight (after being cornered by teenage boys months ago), I've thought about getting mace or pepper spray to protect myself. A whistle would be a great idea! I've put the state police number in my cell phone so that I'm prepared!

Gloria

Permalink Reply by Joseph Porcelli (Chief Neighbor) on June 3, 2009 at 12:14pm

Hi Gloria -

Thanks for joining the conversation. Couple of thoughts:

- Mace and pepper spray can be used against you - they are weapons.
- The number you should be dialing is 911 (from a cell goes right to the State Police)
- When you call tell them exactly where your are - then what is happening. For example - I'm calling from the Lamartine St. Ext between Boylston and Amory, In Jamaica Plain, in Boston, in the the South West Corridor Park. Then state what is happening...

I worked for BPD as an organizer for three years and this is what we told folks.

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Heemstra on June 3, 2009 at 3:19pm

Thanks for organizing a response to these events. We live on Rosemary and have been pretty disturbed by the recent violence. I've written a letter to send to the Mayor and State Reps requesting more police presence.

I think it is a great idea to hand out whistles. Maybe also a flier with the info someone said below about not talking on your cell phone, using ipod, etc, and also some info on the recent crimes in case people are unaware?

I would be more than happy to help hand these things out in the park in the evenings.

Permalink Reply by Catherine Miller on June 3, 2009 at 4:43pm

I think that the dog owners who regularly walk their dogs along the corridor especially the group that congregated behind Hall/Rosemary st;, as well as the one who walk the strip between Oakdale and Armory would be a great group to educate on these indicents and bring to the cause. A person with a dog is less of a target to these people and these dog walkers are pretty regularly on the beat down there... they would have a better sense of when something is not quite right. However the police seem to spend more of their time bugging the dog owners about having their dogs off lease than the bigger crimes that are being committed. Perhaps a truce or understanding can be reached between the police (who bug the dog owners constantly) and the dog owners to fight against this bigger concern.

Permalink Reply by Ralph on June 3, 2009 at 6:05pm

PMAC Meeting - This Wednesday at BPHQ

From:
"Corcoran-Hunt, Elizabeth (HOU)"


Message contains attachments

PMAC_notice_0906.pdf (11KB)


Dear PMAC member:



The next meeting for the Parkland Management Advisory Committee will be held on

Wednesday, June 3rd, 7 PM

Boston Police Headquarters

1 Schroeder Plaza, Corner of Ruggles and Tremont Streets, Roxbury Crossing









Elizabeth Corcoran-Hunt

Representative Byron Rushing

State House Room 122

Boston, MA 02133

p 617 722 2006

Elizabeth.Corcoran-Hunt@state.ma.us

The agenda for the meeting is attached:-

PARKLAND MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Boston, MA
PUBLIC SAFETY & STEERING CMTE MEETING
BPHQ, Tremont St, Roxbury, Wed. June 3rd, 2009
(All PMAC Meetings Are Open to the Public.)

The meeting of the Public Safety Committee will be held from 7:00PM to 7:45PM.

Sign In & Introductions
Past Business.
Prado case update
Patrol Schedule - State Police
Police Patrol Funding
Precinct Reports - State, MBTA, E-13, D-4, B-2

The meeting of the Steering Committee follows immediately from 7:45PM to 8:30PM.

Sign In & Introductions
Park Manager's report - Holly Richardson
Section 3 Lighting
Presentation to Deputy Commisioner - Dan
Next steps?
Basketball Court Lighting - Jan
Project planning status
Summer Work Crews - Dan, Jack, Holly
Public Concerns & Comments
FY 2010 funding request

Next meeting: 7:00PM, Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 70 St. Botolph St., South End

Permalink Reply by Joseph Porcelli (Chief Neighbor) on June 3, 2009 at 6:18pm

Thanks for posting this Ralph. If you add it as an event on the events tab it will ensure others (who are not members of this group see it).

Thanks.

Permalink Reply by Ralph on June 4, 2009 at 7:14pm

OK since the posting was stale an hour after I joined the group the listing for July 8 should be something like this:-


PMAC Meeting - 7:00PM, Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 70 St. Botolph St., South End

From: "Corcoran-Hunt, Elizabeth (HOU)"

Dear PMAC member:

The next meeting for the Parkland Management Advisory Committee will be held on

7:00PM, Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Elderly Housing

70 St. Botolph St., South End, Near Copley Place


Contact person:-

Elizabeth Corcoran-Hunt
Representative Byron Rushing
State House Room 122
Boston, MA 02133
p 617 722 2006
Elizabeth.Corcoran-Hunt@state.ma.us


The agenda for the meeting is attached:-

PARKLAND MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Boston, MA
PUBLIC SAFETY & STEERING CMTE MEETING
Elderly Housing 70 St. Botolph St., South End
(All PMAC Meetings Are Open to the Public.)

The meeting of the Public Safety Committee will be held from 7:00PM to 7:45PM.

Sign In & Introductions
Past Business.
Patrol Schedule - State Police
Precinct Reports - State, MBTA, E-13, D-4, B-2

The meeting of the Steering Committee follows immediately from 7:45PM to 8:30PM.

Sign In & Introductions
Park Manager's report - Holly Richardson
Next steps?
Project planning status
Summer Work Crews - Dan, Jack, Holly
Public Concerns & Comments
FY 2010 funding request

Next meeting: 7:00PM, Wednesday, Aug 5, 2009 at BPD Station E-13., Jamaica Plain

Joe: How do I get this to where it should be? - Ralph

Permalink Reply by Joseph Porcelli (Chief Neighbor) on June 4, 2009 at 2:16pm

Folks,

I've spoken with Carolyn MacNeil who is the Director of the Neighborhood Watch Unit at BPD and is the one who has the whistles and wishes to support our efforts.

My suggestion is we pull a planning meeting together so we can identify what we are going to do and get her, as well as Sgt. Krauses input.

How does Monday 6/15 7:00 look for folks. My suggestion is to meet somewhere in the park.

Permalink Reply by Amy BB on June 4, 2009 at 6:47pm

Hello!

I semi-regularly walk the area between Wyman and Stonybrook with my two dogs. I'm usually there ~5:30 am or 6:00 am. Thankfully no one is out and about to cause trouble with me and my dogs (they're smaller, so not too scary).

I can state with some positiveness that Pat Roberts up on the corner of Chestnut and Wyman is GREAT at being vigilant about problems in the neighborhood and contacting the police. She hosts two crime watches - the Wyman and Chestnut Street Crime Watch and I think the Mozart Street Crime Watch. I can give you her contact info privately if you like? I think she's a great resource.

On another note, I have a contact for getting whistles complete with something printed on them if we want to do our own thing and get custom ... let me know if you want me to find out pricing.

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