April 27, 2006 Community Newsletter from the SPD

Dear Community Friends –

Neighborhood Revitalization

Our last newsletter gave you information about different Earth Day events and things you and your neighbors could do to make your neighborhood appear cared for. Further, we discussed how the appearance of a neighborhood affects the crime in that neighborhood. In essence, we discussed the “Broken Window” theory. Made popular by the work of James Q. Wilson and George Kelling, the Broken Window theory maintains that there is a strong relationship between order/maintenance issues in a geographic area and the level of crime that occurs in that area. If a neighborhood looks as though no one is caring for it, (abandoned cars, broken windows, graffiti, trash), then it becomes a magnet for increasing levels of anti-social behavior.

Neighborhoods that are cohesive and respond quickly to small changes in their environment have a reduced risk of larger crime problems developing. Neighborhoods can and have turned things around. Some successful strategies are:
• Prompt removal of abandoned vehicles.
• Fast clean up of illegally dumped items, litter and spilled garbage.
• Immediate paint out of graffiti (within 48 hours).
• Providing positive activities for teens to gather so they don’t “hang out” on the corner.
• Fresh paint on buildings.
• Keeping sidewalks and gutters clean.
• Continual maintenance of vacant properties.

Following up on those themes, we wanted to let you know about a program whereby neighborhood groups can apply for funding to undertake neighborhood revitalization efforts.

Strong Neighborhood Action Program (SNAP) Grants

The SNAP grant is a program of the NW Insurance Council (formerly the Washington Insurance Council), a Seattle and Tacoma Weed & Seed partner since 1995.

SNAP provides grants to neighborhood groups in federally designated Weed & Seed neighborhoods in the Seattle-Tacoma area. The program empowers communities to create change by taking a leadership role in the development and implementation of neighborhood restoration and community building projects.

NW Insurance Council awards $75,000 per year in SNAP grants to neighborhood groups for a variety of community initiated projects designed to increase safety, reduce crime and improve the quality of life in Weed & Seed neighborhoods. Grants are for neighborhood restoration and community building projects. The strongest applications address both areas, and apply the “broken window” theory in reducing crime.

The timeline for applications is:
• Preliminary Project Descriptions are due May 31st
• Final Applications are due July 31st.
Applicant groups must have Bylaws or Articles of incorporation. The applicant's Bylaws or Articles of Incorporation are due at the time of the Preliminary Project Description. Determination regarding eligibility will be made prior to the applicant being asked to submit a final proposal.

If you have questions about the SNAP grant application process or would like to discuss project ideas, contact Caryn Badgett, Grants Director of the NW Insurance Council at (206) 624-3330 or 1-800-664-4942 or email at caryn.badgett@nwinsurance.org.

Until Next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!

Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention