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CBS to expand to four neighborhoods

By John Larson

A city pilot program credited with reducing crime and blight will soon be expanding. The city launched Community Based Services (CBS) in neighborhoods surrounding three elementary schools – Bryant, at South 8th and ‘I’ streets on Hilltop; Jennie Reed, adjacent to Interstate 5 just west of Tacoma Mall; and Edison, between South 56th and 66th streets. The fourth pilot area is Tacoma Avenue. Between 2005 and 2007, crime in the four areas was reduced, respectively, by 8 percent, 39 percent, 22 percent and 48 percent.

CBS combines the expertise of police officers and code enforcement officers with the knowledge of community activists seeking to improve their neighborhoods.

Next month it will expand to the Dometop neighborhood on the East Side and three neighborhoods in Lincoln District – Lincoln South, the area around Whitman Elementary School on South 39th Street and the area patrolled by Lincoln Area Watch Group. The rollout will begin June 2 with a public meeting. Time and location has not been determined yet. Over the summer community cleanups will occur, followed by citizen engagement training in September.

Lisa Wojtanowicz from CBS discussed the expansion during the May 8 meeting of Tacoma City Council’s Public Safety and Human Services Committee. She pointed out the program fits with the council’s long-term goals of making Tacoma a clean, safe and attractive city.

Seven community cleanups have been done in the four pilot areas, which removed 105 tons of debris.

Monthly meetings are held where citizens set priorities for addressing specific blight and crime problems.

Tacoma Police Department (TPD) officials expressed their enthusiasm about expanding the program.

“It has been very effective for us,” said Lt. Kathy McAlpine. She is commander for TPD’s sector 4. The next four CBS areas fall within district 4-1 of sector 4. This sector has the highest number of calls for police and fire service and code enforcement.

Assistant Chief Bob Sheehan said police officers are ready for the expansion. “We are preparing the other sectors for this,” he remarked.

Councilmember Connie Ladenburg said she has heard wonderful things from residents of the Edison neighborhood about the program.

Wojtanowicz said getting the public involved is key to its success. She recommended enlisting help from South End Neighborhood Council, East Side Neighborhood Advisory Council, Lincoln International Business District and McKinley Hill Business District as it expands.

“We have learned from what we have been doing and are ready to get more people engaged,” she remarked.

In five to seven years the program could be expanded to cover the entire city, Wojtanowicz added.

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