THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 14, 1996 TAG: 9608140318
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 59 lines
In the Cypress Borough, the community is working to bring the schools, police and city inspections departments together to fight crime and blight.
Residents have identified some initiatives they say will help:
Adding recreation and school activities for kids
Creating citizen and camera patrols through the neighborhoods to document crime
Establishing regular communication between city officials and community residents.
On Thursday, Vice Mayor Charles F. Brown will host his third forum in the borough addressing the crime problems. It will be held at 5:30 p.m., at the Tabernacle Christian Outreach Life Center, 1401 E. Washington St.
Brown said that representatives of every city department, including the police, are expected to attend.
The earlier meetings have already led to some changes, Brown said.
There is now a move to create year-round school activities for kids at John F. Kennedy Middle School, Brown said. The City Council recently appropriated $43,000 for the school to hire tutors and other staff to devise recreation and after-school activities during the regular school session. The plan is to divide 300 children into two teams who would be part of the after-school program on alternate days during the week.
Milton R. Liverman, assistant superintendent for curriculum, praised Brown's efforts. But Liverman said funding for year-round schooling could be difficult.
``I've read some studies about schools being community learning centers, where they're open from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight. And there's a great deal of logic in it when taxpayers are paying for schools,'' said Liverman.
``The downside is you increase the use of the building by 20 percent and that includes costs,'' added Liverman.
However, there are plans to at least begin the after-school program through the regular school year, Liverman said.
Liverman stressed that he, Brown and others are still in the preliminary stages for a year-round plan.
Another initiative is the formation of a partnership between police and the community, said acting Police Chief W.A. Freeman.
Trust is often difficult to establish between police and predominantly minority communities, the chief acknowledged, but community forums are a first step. He envisions residents assisting the police in patrolling their community.
``They (community) have to have confidence in us,'' said Freeman. ``The public needs to get to know officers as human beings, and there may be some perceptions we need to dispel. Not everyone is the bad guy. . . At least if there's dialogue, it's a start.'' ILLUSTRATION: Vice Mayor Charles F. Brown says previous crime forums
have already wrought change
FORUM DETAILS
When: 5:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Tabernacle Christian Outreach Life Center, 1401 E.
Washington St. by CNB