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Southeast Quality of Life <br />Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan <br />The Southeast neighborhood borders the downtown and has major arterial <br />streets bordering it with local streets in a grid pattern which allows virtually <br />unlimited access through the neighborhood. With the population declining 50% <br />over the last 30 years, reduced from about 8,000 people in 1960 to about <br />41000 in 199C, the neighborhood is plagued by vacant lots (33% in the <br />Partnership Center Service Area), substandard housing and a number of vacant, <br />vandalized units used for drug purposes. The five block Partnership Center <br />Service Area has 39 units vacant out 110 total or 35 % of the units. The <br />vacant lots are not maintained and have high weeds on them, the area has poor <br />street lighting and with gangs of youth congregating on several corners at night, <br />makes one feel unsafe to venture out after dark. <br />There is 38% of the neighborhood population under 20 and almost 10% 65 <br />years of age or older. This makes the elderly feel overwhelmed by the youth <br />population, especially when there is heavy unemployment between (13%-18%) <br />and many children being raised by single parents (between 20 %-28 %) who may <br />have difficulty supervising their children. <br />The police protection in the area consists of one policeman patrolling per shift <br />although special operations are often underway in the neighborhood trouble <br />spots. There is a 911 system that allows quick police response to emergency <br />conditions. There are also special numbers to call to report criminal activity. <br />Remedial and Preventative Measures, Weed and Seed <br />A program worth considering is the federal Weed and Seed program which has <br />many elements from which to choose in its comprehensive approach to fighting <br />the crime problem. What follows is excerpted from the Weed and Seed <br />program material from a U.S. Department of Justice report to Congress in <br />1992. <br />Purpose <br />The purpose of this program is to demonstrate an innovative, comprehensive, <br />and integrated multi -agency approach to law enforcement and community <br />revitalization for controlling and preventing crime, drug abuse, and gang activity <br />and improving the quality of life in targeted neighborhoods. <br />86 <br />