(Publication date: April 20, 2008)
Revitalization of East Central is finally through the contractual process—fully funded. The East Gateway Sector Development Plan process will be “a broad, inclusive community effort that covers multiple issues.” The current proposed plan boundaries are (approximately) Virginia Street on the west, Copper to I-40 on the north, the City limit on the east, and Kirtland AFB on the south. Paula Donahue of the City Planning Department is the responsible planner; she can be reached at 924-3932 or
pdonahue@cabq.gov. She and the contractors have already compiled a great deal of preliminary information over the last several weeks. The first of four major public input meetings will be conducted on May 22, 2008, at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center (Southern Blvd and Elizabeth Street SE) beginning at 6:30 pm. The approved Metropolitan Redevelopment planning process will support the sector plan by identifying a few (perhaps 3-4) key projects in need of additional government assistance to improve the economic and aesthetic environment.
This may be the most important study of this corner of Albuquerque in this decade, setting sweeping goals and directive guidance for development for the next few decades. So it is essential that business owners and nearby residents consider the future of the east Central Avenue corridor and adjoining areas.
Crime Prevention and Neighborhood Watch. Steve Sink, APD Crime Prevention Manager, conducted an annual conference of the Albuquerque Block Captains Association on April 19. Some key points were discussed concerning crime statistics, technological innovations, and personal safety. The topics focused on Albuquerque, but many of the ideas and suggestions apply to Bernalillo County residents:
In 2007, Albuquerque experienced a 5 percent reduction in Part I crimes (violent crimes), an 11 percent reduction in burglaries, and an increase of 12.6 percent in arrests. Crime hasn’t disappeared, but standards are being enforced and criminals tracked down and arrested.
APD is adopting new technologies, including a Computer Aided Dispatch System (with on-board maps linked to addresses of calls for APD Units responding). APD can find your home quicker.
COP Logic is a system used by other police departments that should be available in Albuquerque this summer. Citizens can create their own police call—reporting minor incidents, graffiti, abandoned vehicles without calling 911 (reserved for violent emergencies) or even 242-COPS (for routine calls.
Another automated program that citizens will soon be able to access on the Internet to view (graphically) locations of crimes. APD supervisors can use the database and program to collect information about high crime areas, types of crimes, patterns. Mobile APD Units can look at recent crimes in the area being patrolled to sharpen their awareness. Citizens can query the system about recent crimes in their neighborhood by type and location. Coming this summer.
The very best deterrent to crime is forming the habit to:
be aware—SENSE what’s going on around you. Walk with your head up, look around frequently, recognize who is approaching, understand your environment.
trust your “gut feel” about danger—INSTINCTS must be trusted. If you are uncomfortable with someone approaching you, believe your feelings. Focus on potential threats and risks.
act on those instinctive assessments—FOLLOW THROUGH by avoiding the possible threat through actions (turn aside, continue to watch, change your pace, escalate to verbal levels).
Another deterrent to crimes, particularly at home, is to form a NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH with your neighbors along your block. Neighbors watching out for neighbors, using the same SENSE—INSTINCT—FOLLOW THROUGH techniques. If a stranger loiters or disappears between homes, call 242-COPS. Call Steve Sink at 924-3600 to get more information about setting up a Neighborhood Watch on your street.
Hints to avoid becoming a victim. Criminals look for targets (something of value) and opportunities (weaker or more vulnerable person, unoccupied house).
Steve Sink pointed out that women’s purses are clear targets. He recommended that women sort through their purses to remove unneeded “stuff” and collect a small set of identification (driver’s license), 1-2 credit cards, and a few dollars that can be carried in a pocket when shopping. Leave your purse at home or lock it in the trunk of your car.
Similarly for men with bulging wallets. Weed out the “junk” in your wallet and collect the same few essential items. Wrap a rubber band around those key items and carry the packet in a front pocket—not in your back pocket.
He recommended folding your vehicle registration and insurance card and including those in your small packet. But that doesn’t work well for people who share vehicles. Another hint that I heard several years ago was to put the vehicle registration and insurance card in a black plastic envelope and hide that in the locked trunk of the vehicle—that way, two drivers have access to those documents.
Keep your car keys and house keys on separate rings. We all trust our car repair folks, but there’s no reason to hand them (or their sneaky customers) an opportunity to copy house keys—and thieves already know where you live because you didn’t hide your vehicle registration and insurance card in the trunk.
Identity theft is increasing. Shred your mail—not just the bank statements, bills, and unwanted credit card applications, but also the envelopes with your name and address on them. Yes, criminals can find that information elsewhere, but prevent the “easy” access if someone searches through your recyclables.
Scam alerts. New Mexico has a web-based listing of recent scam attempts at
http://www.nmag.gov/ (click on Scams). APD has begun a crime alert system on the West Side that may be extended to other substations—in the near future; the Crime Program noted above may substitute for that.
Set up a Neighborhood Watch program on your street (or more than one in your neighborhood). It costs nothing, deters crime, and helps neighbors meet their neighbors.
City Meetings. The meeting dates and agendas for the City Council; Finance and Government Operations committee; and Land Use, Planning, and Zoning committee (including links to the proposed legislation) are posted at
http://daystar2.cabq.gov:81/calendar/#current. Agendas are not normally posted until Friday afternoon prior to a Council meeting on the following Monday.
The agendas for the Environmental Planning Commission (and the staff reports linked from the agenda) are posted at
http://www.cabq.gov/planning/epc/epcagenda.html.
Form Based Code. The proposal to add a151 page addition to the Zoning Code was withdrawn due to extensive opposition. That is being rewritten and should be available in just a few weeks. Several community activists who follow such things suspect that many controversial issues will remain. These may become issues for the Coalition to consider—there are other groups examining the details and taking initial opposition. I’ll pass along the more balanced news to Coalition member representatives.
Web site. The coalition web site is operational at
http://www.eastgatewaycoalition.org/. Please provide suggestions as to content so that this may be a more useful and attractive site.
Next Coalition meeting will be held at 6:30 pm on April 24, at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center. In addition to electing a Vice President and Treasurer for 2008-1010, we will hear reports from State Senator Sue Wilson-Beffort, State Representative R.J. Berry, and Commissioner Michael Brasher. The Commissioner’s discussion will focus on the Bernalillo County Capital Improvements Planning process, seeking our advice and recommendations for projects to be developed in the East Gateway area.
Roger Mickelson 323-9273
fhvhaRoger@aol.com
