THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 12, 1996 TAG: 9601100141
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Ida Kay's Portsmouth
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Crazy as it sounds, it may be that the news about Portsmouth's murder rate breaking a record last year was not a bad thing.
As much as we hate to have our dirty laundry plastered all over the newspapers and television, it may force us to be more aggressive about combatting crime in the future.
Even though many citizens of Portsmouth are not directly affected by the criminal activity, all of us suffer in the long run.
For instance, when Portsmouth's image is smudged once again by a climbing murder rate, the real estate values cease to increase, may even decrease. If real estate values don't go up, the city hurts for money. We may have a property tax increase to offset the losses.
Or if strangers get the mistaken idea that criminals are running up and down High Street shooting each other, leaving everybody else dodging bullets, they don't come to Portsmouth to enjoy our fine restaurants or our small shops. Businesses suffer and sometimes die under such circumstances.
Sometimes, just the insults that come from our neighbors and friends in other cities are hurtful. After all, this is our home and who do these people think they are when they put down Portsmouth.
Even though we know that Portsmouth probably is as safe as any other city, the folks in other cities do not know this. The headlines about murders do not help them believe what we know about the city.
Doing something aggressive to turn around the statistics of serious crime could change the news. If the reports this year are about rising crime, then next year they should be about shrinking numbers of crimes. That would get public attention.
A citywide ``crime summit'' will be held Jan. 20. It's the time when every citizen can offer comments about the situation and solutions to the problems.
The summit, scheduled 1-6:30 p.m., is sponsored by the Portsmouth Police Department, the Crime Prevention Steering Committee and other city agencies.
The really important aspect of this gathering is the fact that any and every citizen can become involved - and that's probably the only way to make any impact on the crime rates. The police and other groups need new ideas and new support.
It would be good if the turnout at this summit went beyond the usual participants - mostly those wonderful citizens who are involved with community watch programs. They work hard to fight crime, but they need to know there are others behind them. It's easier when you feel some backup.
In addition, some people might have better ideas for dealing with crime than already exist within the city. Sometimes, we think we've tried everything, when another person advances a notion never before tried here.
Obviously we don't need business as usual. We need new ideas, taxpayer support and a general public outcry to get the quickest possible turnaround.
There's been a lot of talk about the place of Portsmouth's justice system in all of the recent discussions. People need to give their opinions of where the problem lies and there need to be people at the meeting who can answer some of their questions.
Some people want to place the blame on every phase of the justice process - from cops to judges. Others want to single out one agency, such as the Commonwealth's Attorney's office, for the blame. Any or all of those entities within the system cares deeply about public opinion, so the people who accuse them in private should show up and say so.
The Police Department's program, Neighborhood Enhancement and Action Teams (NEAT), will be one major topic of discussion at the summit, which has been named ``Community Partners in Power - NEAT Solutions.''
NEAT puts pairs of police officers directly into a neighborhood, where they work closely with the residents. They deal not only with crime but with all facets of the neighborhood as it relates to the city - codes enforcements, et cetera.
The program won't work, however, without total participation of citizens to help the police officers and to give them moral support.
NEAT is in place in two neighborhoods, including mine, and it's wonderful to have the police presence, to know that they are just a few minutes away and that they are responsible only to the area in which they are stationed. The program will be expanded throughout the city over the year.
If for no reason other than to learn more about this highly visible policing program, citizens of Portsmouth need to turn out for the Jan. 20 summit. You don't have to be a member of any group or even involved in a civic league to let the city know what you think.
Speaking up with good ideas is a positive way to react to bad news.
For more information about this free meeting, call 399-5261. by CNB