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Editorials by Hardy Brown |
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Thursday, 08 March 2007 |
The Message of Operation Phoenix is Success, Let the Church
say Amen
Each week faith-based congregations meet for the purpose of
offering salvation, hope, inspiration, testimonies and fellowship to a people
who need refreshing support and offer non-believers the opportunity to become
members. They go through the same rituals of calling the congregation to order
then proceed with songs, scripture, prayer, announcements, sermon or message
and then offer the invitation for anyone to join. No, I did not forget the
collection plate or tithes, for this is the fuel that keeps the congregation
moving; likewise every other week in the city of San Bernardino the mayor and city council
meet to hear reports and make decisions on behalf of the citizens. Those
reports and decisions are done with the purpose of giving hope, opportunity,
motivation, inspiration and assistance to its citizens for a better way of
life.
Well this past week, the council met and the mayor called
the meeting to order with all council members in attendance, after all the
usual business was to be conducted. The mayor's special report or message for
this meeting was a report on the outcomes of Operation Phoenix. Just like a
pastor giving scriptures to lead the way for what is to follow, Mayor Morris
gave a brief overview and said "Suppression, Intervention and Prevention, these
are the pillars upon which we will rebuild our city out of the ashes of crime
and violence, and into a shinning example of peace, prosperity and renewal." If
he were a preacher, he would lay out examples to emphasize the point that gives
listeners the feeling that if they did it so can I. Of course he is the mayor
so he called on live presenters to share their experience of suppression,
intervention and prevention in the most crime-infested area of the city. Jim
Morris, his Chief of Staff, led the presentation by reviewing the reason for
and location of the program. Jim stated that they set out to "Change Minds,
Hearts and Culture." To do so would require financial investment and
cooperation from many entities that are stakeholders in the lives of the
impacted people. They did surveys of the people to determine their current
condition, met with and enlisted the support of police, schools, District
Attorneys, Children's Network, business leaders, code enforcement, other
elected officials, Cal
State University,
community action groups, Sheriffs, California Highway Patrol and others. Being
armed with that support they weighed in to work the plan as developed.
Then Jim called on the disciples to deliver the meat of the
presentation starting with the Chief of Police, Mike Billdt who spoke of a 38
percent drop in crime in the target area and the rippling effect of a 21
percent drop in crime citywide. No doubt the program has been successful he
concluded. They had many coordinated sweeps on gangs and truant students. They
made sure that calls were responded to when citizens called. During the
implementation of the program, they made 119 gang member arrests and seized
over $820,000 in cash, impounded 41 vehicles, confiscated illegal guns and many
pounds of methamphetamine.
On the intervention side they used technology to keep track
of violent parolees, improved street lighting; issued 107 warrants to get
property improved and conducted 7,574 building inspections for code violations
of mostly absentee landlords. They sought out affordable pre-school
opportunities for childcare and they established Neighborhood Watch
Associations. They worked with the school district on new curriculum and expanded
after school programs. They sought employment for youth during the summer and
increased recreation opportunities during the summer. They worked with the First Church
of the Nazarene to use the gymnasium for indoor sports. They partnered with the
Chamber of Commerce in a civic beautification project. It was Deputy DA
Michael Martinez who remarked: "You cannot suppress your way out this problem."
Christine N. Famega, Ph.D Assistant Professor in Cal State's
Department of Criminal Justice summarized the success of the program by giving
feedback from the community and local people outside of the targeted area.
People in the area see the community as a better place to live and that it is
safer. One business owner said, "I have noticed more customers at night."
Of course, like any congregation, it is what happens after
the message that gives testimony to the effectiveness of the message. So the
mayor opens the doors of the church (so to speak) for comments and observations
by the council. Dennis Baxter, Esther Estrada and Rikke Van Johnson were proud
of the report because it bore out what they believed all along, based on the
plan. Tobin Brinker said "I want all of you to know that I was in support of
Operation Phoenix" as he read from one of his campaign cards. He wanted
everyone to know he had come back from his "backsliding" state. Chas Kelley sat
in wonderment walking back and forth during the presentation, his close buddy,
Neil Derry, decided to leave the meeting before the presentation. You know
representing the church people who don't want to be convicted by the word. This
happens to a lot of people in real life situations and they miss a blessing.
Wendy McCammack was so moved by the presentation that she reminded everyone
that the spark to the city movement on crime started in her ward with the
killing of Mynesha Crenshaw. She also requested that the program be implemented
in her ward. She not only praised the report but wrote out a check for $500.00
and placed it in the collection plate. Now in the Black church, the pastor
would lead the congregation with; "let the church say Amen, Amen, Amen."
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