Community Based Crime Reduction Project Seeks to Reduce Crime on South Side

Friday, June 15, 2018

Implementation of the US DOJ Community Based Crime Reduction project is underway. 

The project started with data analysis to identify concentrations and patterns of crime in a targeted area on the South Side, between Market. St. and Zedaker.  The crime analysis is being used to deploy targeted Youngstown Police Department patrols during peak times of illegal activity.  Officer foot patrols will be deployed along South Ave. and throughout the project area.  The Clean and Green Team began operations in May, removing trash, debris, tires, and overgrown vegetation from vacant lots and reclaiming sidewalks property-by-property, beginning with streets near Taft Elementary.  To date, nearly two miles of sidewalk and 189 lots have been cleaned up.  Neighborhood organizers have held nearly 200 door-to-door conversations with residents, identifying quality of life issues and gathering input for proposed solutions.  Organizers have worked with community members to host 3 neighborhood cleanups, 1 block party, and 2 informal "meet and greets."  The project will also feature a series of youth-centered events, called the Southside Summer Experience, which provide weekly pop-up activities throughout the target area.