Public Safety Rally – March 3rd, 7pm

[speaknj]

Speak NJ will air City Wide Rally Against Crime on Mondays, 10:30 PM and Tuesdays, 9:00 PM on channel 51 on Comcast.  It is also available on NJ.com. http://videos.nj.com/news_videos/
The show is 28 minutes.
Yvonne

[speaknj]

The Jersey City Reporter Article on the Rally, no mention of hissing and booing.

People were holding up their brooms and even shovels, looking for a “clean sweep” of crime in their neighborhoods as they listened to speakers at the Public Safety Rally on Tuesday at Christ the King Church in Jersey City.

About 500 people including community activists, loved ones of shooting victims, and mayoral candidates offered perspectives on combating crime in Jersey City.

The rally was organized by a recently formed coalition of neighborhood associations and civic groups known as the Combined CityWide Block Association.

The frustration was evident as the speakers talked about rising crime statistics over the past year, including murders and shootings, with some far above the national average.

27 murders last year

Raquel Sharper of the Communipaw Avenue Block Association angrily read off the number of murders from last year in Hudson County (36), highlighting 27 that happened in Jersey City alone.

Rev. Robert Allen, a longtime Jersey City resident, lashed out at what he said was an ineffectual police presence. He stood with his 16-year old daughter Olivea, who was shot in the face on Feb. 10 while walking on Communipaw Avenue. Her shooter has still not been found.

Mayoral candidate Louis Manzo said the police statistics were “manipulated” by Mayor Jerramiah Healy’s administration to show drops in crime, and called for better policing.

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“Mr. Manzo, I don’t lie.” – Mayor Jerramiah Healy
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“The only satisfaction any leader of this city should have is not a statistic, but coming to a group here, and saying, ‘How safe do you feel?’ ” Manzo said.

Healy was on the defensive at rally, citing the positive work of the Jersey City Police Department. However, as he did so, some in the crowd voiced their disapproval. Healy engaged in a back-and-forth with Manzo, saying “Mr. Manzo, I don’t lie” and “I’ll put my word against yours.”

Fighting crime at election time

Tuesday’s rally was not advertised as a mayoral candidates’ forum/debate, but it might as well have been, as five contenders in the May 12 municipal election spoke about public safety.

Good government advocate and businessman Dan Levin called for the public to improve safety in the streets by electing a new mayor who will bring about such improvements.

Phil Webb, a former Jersey City police officer, said he would look, as mayor, to implement more programs for youths, and echoed Levin’s call for a new administration.

State Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith mentioned state legislation he is working on to help disadvantaged women and former felons to get jobs, and promised if he was elected to concentrate police in areas with the highest crime.

But the loudest applause came for Louis Manzo, who attacked Healy for the rise in crime during his time in office.

Criticizing the criticism

However, Manzo’s comments on crime stats were criticized by Police Chief Thomas Comey, also at the meeting, and by Healy.

Healy took issue with Manzo, citing some positive statistics such as an 8 percent drop in violent crime from 2007 to 2008, and a 24 percent drop in violent crime since he came into office over four years ago.

Healy also promised a 15 percent increase in the police patrolling the streets at peak times, starting within the next week. He was subjected to series of questions on policing later in the rally.

When asked about bringing the State Police and the National Guard to help the Jersey City police, he said the National Guard was not for policing, but for other types of emergencies.

He said he is open to State Police and implanting Operation Ceasefire, a program concentrating on youth gun violence and community-based policing.

[pchops]

FROM Downtown JC Watch:

Hello everyone!

Thanks to those who were able to attend the Public Safety Event last Tuesday. There was an amazing turnout. Communipaw Avenue Block Association and Central Avenue SID were excellent in working with our Mayor and Mayoral candidates. We should be hearing more about the NJ program, Operation SEIZE FIRE, to start in Jersey City. We are also hoping that we can see more cameras. Thanks to Jan and everyone who helped out with the petition.

We were able to present helpful crime prevention tips at the Morris Canal Redevelopment Coalition last night. There was a terrific turnout including one resident who has several cameras on his property which has reduced illegal dumping and broken windows altogether. We also realized how very scared residents are to speak to the police so we are encouraging people to contact us, or speak to the Morris Canal Redevelopment leaders. As many of you know, older residents will not call the police so it is important to gather information from them and contact the police on their behalf. One can email the East District Captain and Community Relations Officer at policeeast@jcnj.org.

I need to balance our schedules so I am canceling the March 9th meeting in order to organize a much needed Blockwatch on Lafayette on Wednesday, March 11th at 8pm. At this blockwatch, residents and I will map out streetlights that need bulb replacements, vacant lots with debris, graffiti and "hot spots". We will be doing this by car and should only take 30 minutes at the most. If anyone is interested, please reply to this email.

I also want to announce that we are organizing a lunch Blockwatch on Tuesday, March 10th at 11:45am. We have been having some lunch hour problems on Monmouth again in addition to the evening problems. If you are interested, please let me know.

Thanks!


--
This email was brought to you by the Downtown Jersey City Watch ( downtownjcwatch@gmail.com ).  "We watch out for each other."

Always call suspicious activities or incidents of a "non-emergency" nature to the JCPD: (201) 547-5477 non emergency line

Please contact the East District Command, Captain McDonough with any information about suspicious events or crimes to: policeeast@jcnj.org

Copy the DJCW with emails you send to the East District Command to this address: downtownjcwatch@gmail.com

[MCA™]

Editorial in the JJ:


They're 'listening' as the city speaks
Thursday, March 05, 2009

It is an election year. This means politicians are ready to listen to the public, and Tuesday evening they showed up at a rally against crime to speak to about 300 Jersey City citizens at Christ the King Catholic Church on Ocean Avenue.

Considering the cold weather, it was an impressive showing by the community that can be attributed to the organizing efforts of a coalition of neighborhood block associations and the Central Avenue Special Improvement District.

While the focus was crime, the May city election was on the minds of some. This may be why the audience was sprinkled with municipal government employees who knew when to applaud and cheer, and when to boo and hiss.

This did not detract from the response of concerned city residents, who roundly applauded when there was a genuine need to respond and who treated each speaker with respect.

One of the more emotional moments came when several city victims of crime spoke about their ordeals at the start of the evening. It drove home the point why the community came together.

All the candidates had points to make, but the crowd came to hear Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who is responsible for protecting the city's citizens. It was obvious from the beginning that few in the audience believe the city's statistics depicting less crime.

In answering a series of questions from the coalition, Healy admitted that the Police Department never "fully" implemented a state initiative that began several years ago called "Operation Ceasefire." Using a variety of government and community initiatives, it is an anti-gun violence program used nationwide and has proven successful in other New Jersey cities.

Responding to a question from the neighborhood coalition on when the city will "fully" implement "Operation Ceasefire," the mayor responded "ASAP." The mayor also promised to increase police manpower by 15 percent. It was not clear where the extra police would be deployed.

There should be more of these sessions at different city venues. It is the best way for residents to hold their elected representatives' feet to the fire on very important issues. Congratulations to the citizen organizers for a job well done.

[speaknj]

The newspaper said Manzo was met with hisses and boos.  Do you think the paper is correct?
Yvonne

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/BEcS0kZLQWY&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/BEcS0kZLQWY&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1</a>

[MCA™]

JJ:


Jersey City mayoral candidates face off at public safety rally
by Amy Sara Clark / The Jersey Journal
Tuesday March 03, 2009, 11:59 PM

About 300 people crowded into Christ the King Catholic Church tonight to protest Jersey City's crime rate and hear what mayoral candidates plan to do about it.

For the most part, the candidates -- Phillip Webb, Daniel Levin, Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith, former Assemblyman Louis Manzo and Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy -- touted similar ideas for crime prevention: more cops walking the beat, better cooperation between cops and the community, and the need to bring more jobs, youth recreation and drug rehabilitation programs to Jersey City.

The speakers were all enthusiastically applauded after their five-minute presentations.

The one area of disagreement was statistics, with rally organizers citing statistics showing that crime has gone up and Healy using other statistics to show it has gone down.

"There was not a drop," said Raquel Sharper, of the Communipaw Avenue Block Association, which organized the rally with the Central Avenue Special Improvement District.

Sharper pointed to such statistics as a 33 percent increase in gun-related crime between 2007 and 2008, and a 24 percent increase in burglaries during the same period.

Healy countered that between 2006 and 2007, violent crime overall dropped 13 percent, and dropped 8 percent between 2007 and 2008.

Manzo used the discrepancy to go on the attack. When asked his plan for improving crime prevention, he said: "I will stop manipulating crime statistics, because we are only fooling ourselves."

Manzo was met by boos and hisses from the audience and a retort from Healy, who turned to the candidate and said: "Mr. Manzo, I don't lie."

After the speeches, rally speaker Aleah Gathings got the mayor to promise that he would fully implement, "ASAP," the "Operation CeaseFire" model, a statewide anti-violence program that emphasizes cooperation among law enforcement agencies, community outreach, and crime prevention through initiatives such as job training.

He also said his State of the City promise to increase police on the street by 15 percent between 3 p.m. and midnight would begin within days.

Afterward, rally attendees said they were impressed by all of the candidates, but no one in particular stood out.

"They were all very good, and they all came from similar perspectives," said Kathleen Washington, a 61-year-old Bergen-Lafayette resident who works in marketing and communications.

"It was even," agreed Norman Williams, a 45-year-old author who also lives in Bergen-Lafayette. "The mayor said we have programs and the candidates said we need more, so they kind of met in the middle."

[MCA™]

JJ:


Rally tomorrow night to protest crime rate
Monday, March 02, 2009

Frustrated by a "reactive response" to crime prevention, two Jersey City groups have organized a citywide public safety rally tomorrow night at which four mayoral candidates will be asked how they plan to make the city safer.

"We would like the crime reduced to the level of the surrounding cities," said Rosalyn Browne, president of the Communipaw Avenue Block Association, a co-sponsor of the rally with the Central Avenue Special Improvement District.

"We would like our senior citizens to feel safer. We would like our children to feel safer when they're trying to study and learn," Browne said. "There were three shootings on the corner of Lafayette and Van Horne streets within two months of each other."

Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, activist Dan Levin, state Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith, and former state Assemblyman Lou Manzo, are expected to speak.

Rally organizers said they want the Jersey City Police Department to do a better job implementing "Operation Ceasefire," a statewide anti-violence program that emphasizes cooperation among law enforcement agencies, community outreach, witness protection and crime prevention through initiatives such as job training.

Jersey City Police Chief Thomas Comey, who plans to attend the rally, said the city is already using the "Operation Ceasefire" model.

Attendees are being asked to bring a broom to the rally to send the message to "sweep away crime."

The 7 p.m. rally is at Christ The King Catholic Church, 768 Ocean Ave., at the corner of Forest Street. Free transportation will be provided at 6 p.m. from: Berry Gardens, 92 Danforth Ave.; Monumental Baptist Church, 121 Lafayette St.; Lafayette Senior Living Center, 463 Pacific Ave.; Ocean Towers, 425 Ocean Ave.; and Bowers Street at Central Avenue.

AMY SARA CLARK

[MCA™]

COMBINED CITYWIDE BLOCK ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCEMENT

Please attend the public safety rally on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 at 7pm
Christ the King Church, 768 Ocean Avenue (Corner of Forest Street)

It's time to start preventing crimes, not react to them!

If you are frustrated and tired of the way Jersey City reacts to crimes and want the city to do more to prevent these crimes, attend this rally!

In high-crime areas, public parks and spaces, Jersey City needs more walking neighbhorhood police, a more proactive policing system, surveillance (CCTV cameras) and a local, state or federal task force

In show of support at the rally we ask everyone to bring a broom. We want to "Sweep Away Crime"

Free Transporation at 6pm at:
*Berry Gardens - 92 Danforth Avenue
*Monumental Baptist - 121 Lafayette Street
*Lafayette Senior Center - 463 Pacific Ave
*Ocean Towers - 425 Ocean Avenue
*Corner of Bowers Street and Central Avnenue

For information call CABA (Communipaw Avenue Block Association) at 201-432-6565
Organizers: CABA and Central Ave SID

INVITED GUEST SPEAKERS: MAYOR HEALY AND MAYORAL CANDIDATES

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE BACK OUR STREETS!
NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN JC THIS CONCERNS YOU!
THANK YOU!