11/11/2002 Partners Against Crime District II Meeting Minutes
Crime prevention & personal safety
Shopping cart ordinance
Durham Voter Coalition
Rocky Ridge traffic issue
Transportation plan update
Funding update
Neighborhood Watch update
ABC permit applications
Housing update
Impact team update
The meeting was opened with a moment of silence for Capt. Tommy Morris. Capt. Morris, who passed away recently, was the former commander of District 2, and his work on behalf of our community is remembered and appreciated. Newman spoke with Capt. Morris just a few days before his death, and reports that District 2 was still in his thoughts.
The usual round of introductions was made; this month we welcomed residents from several new neighborhoods, mostly north of I-85, and from the Palm Park Apartments. A Spanish-speaking DPD officer provided translation; in the future, we hope to establish better translation facilities to make the meetings more accessible to the Latino community.
Crime prevention & personal safety: Officer Eric Hester introduced the topic of crime prevention by explaining the concept of the ‘crime prevention triangle’, which links the three elements of any crime: the criminal, the victim, and the opportunity. Hester spoke of the rise in crime during the holiday season, and the importance to the community of prosecuting property crimes. In terms of personal safety, he advised citizens to trust their instincts and to call 911; if your neighborhood has an organized Neighborhood Watch, you should also call your block captain to report any suspicious person or activity.
The average home break-in takes five to seven minutes. We should be immediately suspicious of anyone looking into windows or mailboxes, as this may be laying the groundwork for a break-in. Hester recommended the use of indirect lighting, with sheer curtains or mini-blinds, rather than leaving windows exposed during the day to anyone who might want to look in.
To protect your home while you’re away on vacation, let your block captain know when you’ll be gone. Use timers for lights to make your house look inhabited. You can also put a radio on a timer; tune it to an AM talk-radio station, and adjust the volume so that from outside you can hear the muffled sound of voices, but not well enough to identify what’s being said. Televisions should not be left timer-activated because they can be a fire hazard. On your answering machine, don’t give your number, and of course no information about your absence from home. Women may want to put a man’s voice on the machine; also, in your message, say “we”, rather than “I”.
If you’re receiving harassing hang-up phone calls, notify Verizon, and also advise the police. If the caller actually threatens you, call the police.
Sixty percent of home break-ins involve entry through an exterior door; in twenty percent of cases, entry is through a window. To maximize the protection of your home, be sure to use all the locks you have, which many people do not. The Durham Police Dept. offers free home security assessments to residents; to arrange one for your home, contact Officer Hester at the District 2 substation.
Hester explained the concept of “curb appeal”, or what makes a criminal perceive your home as a desirable target. To reduce your curb appeal, trim back all your shrubbery to no more than three feet above ground level, and make sure you have good visibility around all doors and windows.
When panhandlers approach you or come to your door, don’t give them money. You can refer them to the police for direction to various social service programs that can help them.
When you get into an elevator, try to stand by the controls, and check for the presence of an emergency phone in the elevator. Pay attention to the other people riding the elevator with you. If someone makes you uneasy, trust your instincts and don’t get into the elevator with them.
On the street, avoid a conspicuous display of jewelry or expensive clothes. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times. Carry a minimum of cash on you. Don’t put your license, keys, and registration all in your purse; try to carry ID in a pocket instead. Carrying your purse under your arm can help you avoid being injured if you are the victim of a purse snatching.
When parking, avoid parking decks if possible, and don’t park next to a van with tinted windows. When you return to your car, check the trunk to make sure it’s closed, and look around, under, and inside your car, including on the back floorboards.
If you have car trouble and can’t call for help, signal by putting your hood up. If a wrecker stops to offer assistance, be sure to establish a price first before accepting their services.
If your kids have part-time jobs in retail, inquire about procedures in the store where they work. Closing the store alone is dangerous.
On mass transit, stay in well-lit areas, around people, and remain aware of your surroundings.
Robberies over the last few weeks have resulted in four arrests; three of these suspects are currently out on bond.
The Eyes & Ears program complements Neighborhood Watch by identifying people whose jobs take them out on the streets all day and harnessing their observational powers. This program already includes 43 city buses, 200 cabdrivers, and USPS letter carriers.
Shopping cart ordinance: Newman led into this issue by citing the results of a recent local opinion poll, in which a large majority of Durham residents surveyed agreed on the importance of the community’s physical appearance and considered it a high priority. He then explained about the City of Durham Task Force on Illegal Dumping and Other Environmental Issues. The Illegal Dumping Task Force was formed about a year and a half ago around the shopping cart issue. It includes representatives from PAC1, PAC2, PAC3, PAC4, the Inter-Neighborhood Council, DBAC, Public Works, the Durham Police Dept., Solid Waste, and several local grocery stores. The shopping cart problem has been the first focus issue for the task force; in the future, it will address other issues.
Newman then gave us some statistics on the magnitude of the shopping cart theft problem, which is pretty extensive, and really adds up given the cost of replacing the carts. The average cart costs $154. These costs are inevitably passed on to the consumer, so this is an issue that affects every one of us by raising the price of groceries. In District 2 alone, in the past 11 months, the Impact Team has rounded up over $40,000 worth of carts. As we saw from a series of abandoned-cart slides, there are other costs not included in those figures—the costs of damage to the environment and the appearance of our neighborhoods.
Under current city law, the removal of a shopping cart from store premises is a Class 3 misdemeanor. However, the DPD does not have the time or personnel to cite anyone for breaking this law.
The intent of the new ordinance proposed by the Illegal Dumping Task Force is to make store owners responsible for taking steps to prevent shopping cart theft, and to facilitate the retrieval and return of abandoned carts. Stores will be required to submit and implement a plan which must include warning signs on carts, signs in the store, and physical measures to obstruct cart removal. Refusal to comply or failure to prepare such a plan in a timely fashion will carry civil penalties. When carts are picked up by the city, owners will be notified and given a time limit to reclaim their carts. Unclaimed carts will be sold.
Possible measures to discourage cart removal include wheel locking devices, grooves in the pavement that prevent carts from leaving, security guards, requiring a deposit for cart use, and making available hand utility carts (the upright, two-wheeled kind). These utility carts are much cheaper than a grocery cart, they can go on a bus, and people could use them to get their groceries home.
A draft of the proposed ordinance was distributed, to be circulated and discussed in the neighborhoods. There will be an opportunity for further discussion and a vote on this issue at the next PAC2 meeting; the Illegal Dumping Task Force will meet again in January.
To report an abandoned cart and get it picked up, call Mitch Archer of the Impact Team at 560-4974, ext. 266.
Someone posed the question of what happens if the police are called about a person in possession of a grocery cart. Capt. Clark explained that the responding officer could get the person’s name and identification, but could not act on the shopping cart charge without a complaint from the cart owner.
Durham Voter Coalition: Fred Foster of the Durham Voter Coalition spoke about a variety of issues contributing to blight in East Durham, including vacant houses, abandoned cars, shopping carts, trash dumping, and space heater fires. The DVC is seeking PAC2’s support of their ‘fight against blight’ resolution. The DVC also wants to make changes to the minimum housing code and raise minimum rental property standards to be equal with owner-occupied housing. Foster pointed out that many residents, including people earning minimum wage, people on welfare or a fixed income, and many single-parent families, are unable to afford their heating bills. He wants to see caulking on the windows and R19 insulation in floors required.
Considerable discussion ensued. It was stated that Housing inspectors look for compliance with the standards of the City of Durham minimum housing code, not the North Carolina building code. Someone raised the usual threat that forcing landlords to make improvements to their properties could result in rent increases which would make rents unaffordable. Foster responded that the DVC is seeking an amendment to prevent landlords from passing on the costs of improvements. However, no one explained how, given that we currently have no laws restricting rent increases, such a law could actually work.
Insulation is an excellent investment – “a dime of insulation saves a dollar of heat” – but, since landlords in this market are typically not responsible for utility bills, there’s no direct financial incentive for the landlord to invest in insulation or other improvements that would decrease the tenant’s utility costs. This can also be a difficult issue for new homeowners, if they buy an older home and don’t have the capital to make needed improvements to it. If utility costs are too high, they may end up losing the house.
There will be an opportunity for further discussion of these issues at the next meeting. In the meantime, Newman will post information to the listserve on the existing laws and any recommendations for change. If possible, we may get someone from Housing to speak about the minimum housing code and enforcement issues.
Rocky Ridge traffic issue: A resident of the Rocky Ridge subdivision sought PAC2 support to counter a development proposal that would increase traffic problems in their neighborhood. This neighborhood, off Sparger and Cole Mill Road, already has high-speed, high-volume traffic on their main arteries. There is a proposal before city council from a builder who wants to create connections between streets that would dump additional cut-through traffic into the neighborhood, at the expense of residents’ safety and quality of life.
Transportation plan update: The latest version of Eno Drive is “Option 7”, previously known as the Northern Durham Parkway. When this plan was originally put forward by residents, the DOT had refused it, insisting on the whole of Eno Drive. Currently, the community is divided on Option 7. PAC2 has already voted once to oppose the NE/NW loop. Newman will be posting more information on this to the listserve. Community input matters; whatever your views, make them known.
Funding update: PAC2’s funding decisions are taking effect. The new PAC2 website should be up by sometime next month.
Neighborhood Watch update: Last month there were four Neighborhood Watch organizational meetings in the district, with over 200 residents attending.
ABC permit applications: There was one ABC permit application, for Papa Jack’s steak restaurant at 3218 Guess Road. This location was formerly a Latino nightclub; it burned down about a year ago, and has now been renovated. The ABC application, from owner Eddie Edwards, is for a new permit to sell beer, wine, and mixed drinks on the premises. There have been no objections. PAC2 voted unanimously to approve the application.
Housing update:Lynwood Best reported that Housing is working with the police to address problems in the River Forest area, including prostitution and drug activity. The department is currently short on housing inspectors and will be hiring more.
Impact team update: If you see an abandoned shopping cart around your neighborhood, call Mitch Archer at 560-4974, and the Impact Team will come and take it away. The Illegal Dumping Task Force will be tackling other issues, such as illegal dumping at recycling sites.
The Impact Team responded to 88 complaints in District 2 this month. They collected 19.91 tons of trash and debris in 15 trips. They cleaned up 6 illegal dump sites and made 5 trips to the transfer station with 7.29 tons of trash. They made 13 trips (every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) to the Oxford Commons recycling site to remove non-recyclables dumped there. They also made 13 trips to the Northgate Mall recycling site. On the shopping cart front, the Impact Team collected 11 Harris Teeter, 4 Wal-Mart, 7 Food Lion, 4 K-Mart, 2 Winn-Dixie, 2 Kroger, and one Petsmart shopping cart.
The Impact Team removed graffiti last month from several sites including Washington St., Trinity Ave., Dacian Ave., and Horton Rd. If you see graffiti that may be gang-related, call the DPD gang unit. They’ll check it out and then pass it on to the Impact Team for removal.
When sweeping up or raking leaves, use yard waste containers to put them in. Do not sweep or blow your leaves into the street; this is illegal.
To find out about street sweeping schedules, call Chris Boyer at 560-4105.
Adjourn
IMPORTANT DISTRICT II CONTACTS/INFO
Commander: Capt. Duane Clark
560-4582, cdclark@ci.durham.nc.us
Lieutenant: Eddie Sarvis
560-4582, esarvis@ci.durham.nc.us
Community Services: Tony Scott
517-7139, toscott@ci.durham.nc.us
Community Officer: Scott Baker
560-4582, sbaker2@ci.durham.nc.us
Crime Prevention Officer: Eric Hester
560-4582, ehester@ci.durham.nc.us
Grants Coordinator: Pamela Majette
560-1142 x287, pmajette@ci.durham.nc.us
2. Partners Against Crime – District II
Co-Chair: Newman Aguiar
956-9812, newman@nc.rr.com
Co-Chair: Katherine O’Brien
682-9421, keobrien27701@yahoo.com
Secretary: Lori Harris
688-3720, Ellephai@aol.com
Treasurer: Fred Lamar
286-0335, dolce2@duke.edu
Webmaster/Listserv admin: Pam Spaulding
pspauld@yahoo.com
3. Dept of Housing/Community Development
Community Liaison: Lynwood Best
560-4570 Ext. 254
Housing Inspector Supervisor: Gray Dawson
560-4570
Housing Inspectors:
Dave Stark, 560-4570
George Carter, 560-4570/ext. 233
4. Durham Impact Team
Mitchell Archer, 560-4974, x266,
5. Durham Animal Control
Administrator: Cindy Bailey
560-0630, 560-0633 (f)
animalcontrol@co.durham.nc.us
6. Durham Animal Shelter
560-0640, 560-0643 (f)
7. Durham Public Works/Urban Forestry
Chuck Harris
560-4228, charris@ci.durham.nc.us
8. Durham Public Schools
Facilities Manager: Michelle Brossette
560-3696, brossem@dpsnc.net