Pomona Weed and Seed Strategy Presented By Armando N. Lopez Weed and Seed Site Coordinator

What is Weed and Seed? Weed and Seed is not a program – It is a Strategy An Official Strategy that:An Official Strategy that: –Provides collaborative-building opportunities –Promotes community engagement –Builds community capacity –Encourages all stakeholders to get involved –Presents youth and families with the challenge of making a difference in their community

What is Weed and Seed? The overall goal of the Strategy is to prevent, control and reduce violent crime, drug abuse and gang activity in the designated high-crime neighborhoods. The overall goal of the Strategy is to prevent, control and reduce violent crime, drug abuse and gang activity in the designated high-crime neighborhoods. The Weeding element enables communities to reduce violent and drug related crime (weed) — Law enforcement agencies and justice officials cooperate to "weed" out criminals.The Weeding element enables communities to reduce violent and drug related crime (weed) — Law enforcement agencies and justice officials cooperate to "weed" out criminals. The Seeding element enables public agencies and community-based organizations in collaborating efforts to "seed" for much-needed human services including: prevention, intervention, treatment and neighborhood restoration programs.The Seeding element enables public agencies and community-based organizations in collaborating efforts to "seed" for much-needed human services including: prevention, intervention, treatment and neighborhood restoration programs. A community-oriented policing component bridges the weeding and seeding elements.A community-oriented policing component bridges the weeding and seeding elements.

Weed and Seed Components Every Weed and Seed Strategy focuses on: Law EnforcementLaw Enforcement Community-Oriented PolicingCommunity-Oriented Policing Prevention Intervention and TreatmentPrevention Intervention and Treatment Neighborhood RestorationNeighborhood Restoration

Goals of Pomona Weed and Seed Law Enforcement Law enforcement will integrate local, State and Federal resources available to address the affected neighborhoods where gang and drug activities are linked.Law enforcement will integrate local, State and Federal resources available to address the affected neighborhoods where gang and drug activities are linked. Identified Goals –Reduce the incidents of drug and gang activity by 15%. –Identify, investigate and prosecute highly-visible drug dealers and gang members.

Goals of Pomona Weed and Seed Community-Oriented Policing Partner with non-law enforcement agencies for effective coordination and direct delivery of resources and services to project area residents.Partner with non-law enforcement agencies for effective coordination and direct delivery of resources and services to project area residents. Identified Goals Identified Goals –Encourage resident reporting of all illegal weapons, drug and gang activity. –Increase suspect identification through neighborhood victim/witness protection and assistance outreach service programs.

Goals of Pomona Weed and Seed Prevention, Intervention and Treatment Provide culturally appropriate services and educational assistance to neighborhood youth and families.Provide culturally appropriate services and educational assistance to neighborhood youth and families. Identified Goals Identified Goals –Provide counseling and case management for at-risk youth and anger management training for troubled families. –Increase availability of various services (i.e., drug treatment, counseling, case management, parenting skills training, landlord educational training and conflict mediation).

Goals of Pomona Weed and Seed Neighborhood Restoration Provide training and assistance to promote participation in property revitalization activities and neighborhood rehabilitation.Provide training and assistance to promote participation in property revitalization activities and neighborhood rehabilitation. Identified Goals Identified Goals –Improve neighborhood and economic development opportunities within the targeted area. –Decrease areas of blight and incidents of graffiti and vandalism.

Who is Weed and Seed? The Collaborative is a joint effort of: –The Steering Committee that governs the strategy –The City of Pomona as the fiscal agent –Governmental Partners US Department of JusticeUS Department of Justice US Attorneys OfficeUS Attorneys Office Drug Enforcement AgencyDrug Enforcement Agency Pomona Police DepartmentPomona Police Department –Community Partners Pomona Unified School DistrictPomona Unified School District Cal Poly University, PomonaCal Poly University, Pomona Boys and Girls ClubBoys and Girls Club Reach Out West EndReach Out West End Points of Light MinistriesPoints of Light Ministries To name only a few…To name only a few… Most Important – SITE AREA RESIDENTS

Weed and Seed Structure STEERING COMMITTEE Weed and Seed Site Coordinator Law Enforcement Subcommittee Community- Oriented Policing Subcommittee Prevention/ Intervention/ Treatment Subcommittee Neighborhood and Economic Development Subcommittee Conflict Mediation Crime Reduction Neighborhood Watch Community Organizing Safe Havens Community/ Sustainability Efforts Youth Development Education Partnerships Employment/ Economic Opportunity Housing and Community Services

Located in the Southern part of the City of Pomona, the Weed and Seed Strategy directly affects Council Districts 2 and 3 Weed and Seed Site Area

Police Reporting District

Safe Haven Sites Lexington Elementary School Philadelphia Community Center Renacimiento Community Center

Philadelphia Community Center

Lexington Elementary School Renacimiento Community Center

Site Area Overview - Demographics Population - 14,664 ( approx 10% of Pomona’s population)Population - 14,664 ( approx 10% of Pomona’s population) DemographicsDemographics –Latino 82.8% –Households 2,354 –Median Income $44,083 –Avg. Household Size 4.7 –Overcrowding Rate 46.9% –Population under 18 years old38% –Poverty Rate19% –Adults over 25 without a high school diploma 59% Source: UCR

Pomona Weed and Seed Grant Awards Year 1 07/01/05 to 09/30/06 Awarded $175,000 Weeding Activity $ 87,500 Seeding Activity$ 87,500 Year 2 10/01/06 to 06/30/07 Awarded $225,000 Weeding Activity $ 89,237 Seeding Activity$135,763 Year 3 07/01/07 to 06/03/08 Applied for $200,000 Weeding Activity $100,649 Seeding Activity $ 99,351

Weeding Highlights Gang Injunction in place - increase in arrests and a decrease in violent crimeGang Injunction in place - increase in arrests and a decrease in violent crime –47 out of 60 gang members have been served with the gang injunction Increase in Community-Oriented PolicingIncrease in Community-Oriented Policing Increase in Neighborhood Watch MeetingsIncrease in Neighborhood Watch Meetings License Plate Scanner purchased for use in site areaLicense Plate Scanner purchased for use in site area –The scanner can process over 2,300 license plates a shift. On the first day of use a stolen car was identified.

Weeding Highlights 82 % Decrease in Homicides in Reporting Areas82 % Decrease in Homicides in Reporting Areas homicides reported17 homicides reported homicides reported8 homicides reported homicides reported3 homicides reported

Weeding Activity 20% Decrease in Violent Crimes in Reporting Areas20% Decrease in Violent Crimes in Reporting Areas violent crimes439 violent crimes violent crimes425 violent crimes violent crimes351 violent crimes

Weeding Highlights Decrease in calls for serviceDecrease in calls for service - decrease in criminal activity ,232 calls for service8,232 calls for service ,283 calls for service6,283 calls for service ,252 calls for service6,252 calls for service

Technical Assistance Technical Assistance Provided:Technical Assistance Provided: March 15, 2006 Hildy Saizow Consultant for the U.S. Department of Justice; Office of Community Capacity Development Technical Assistance Recommendation:Technical Assistance Recommendation: Focus on the Weed and Seed Strategy Mobilize the Community Develop Comprehensive Safe Haven Plan Create Working Subcommittee Technical Assistance Implementation:Technical Assistance Implementation: Implementation currently on-going

Seeding Highlights September 2003City applies for Weed and Seed Site RecognitionSeptember 2003City applies for Weed and Seed Site Recognition June 2004 City Recognized as Weed and Seed Site by DOJJune 2004 City Recognized as Weed and Seed Site by DOJ October 2005 First Steering Committee MeetingOctober 2005 First Steering Committee Meeting December 2005 Simons Middle School/Boys and Girls Club identified as Temporary Safe Haven sitesDecember 2005 Simons Middle School/Boys and Girls Club identified as Temporary Safe Haven sites December 2005 Cal Poly Pomona and Pomona Police Department Performs Initial Site Evaluation with Survey of ResidentsDecember 2005 Cal Poly Pomona and Pomona Police Department Performs Initial Site Evaluation with Survey of Residents

Seeding Highlights 2006 February 2006Parent Project begins at Simons Middle SchoolFebruary 2006Parent Project begins at Simons Middle School March 2006 Weed and Seed Awareness DayMarch 2006 Weed and Seed Awareness Day May 2006Steering Committee Day RetreatMay 2006Steering Committee Day Retreat May 2006 Permanent Safe Haven Sites identifiedMay 2006 Permanent Safe Haven Sites identified September 2006 Full-time Site Coordinator HiredSeptember 2006 Full-time Site Coordinator Hired October 2006Safe Haven Staff HiredOctober 2006Safe Haven Staff Hired

Goals for the Future Continue to implement the Official StrategyContinue to implement the Official Strategy Continue following Technical Assistance recommendationsContinue following Technical Assistance recommendations Promote residential involvementPromote residential involvement Increase programming levelsIncrease programming levels Develop a sustainability planDevelop a sustainability plan

Contact Information Armando N. Lopez Housing Analyst Weed and Seed Site Coordinator City of Pomona 505 S Garey Ave. Pomona, CA Phone: Fax: