Street strives
for safer streets

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

The Rev. Margaret Handy, liaison for Mayor John Street’s office of faith-based initiatives, told about 70 neighborhood leaders to "listen up" at the Max Myers Playground last week.
The group came to hear what Street and company had to say about putting a curfew center in the 2nd Police District.
The centers, part of Street’s latest strategy to curb violence in the city, are an offshoot of his Operation Safer Streets initiative.
The centers are locations where police can bring youngsters picked up for violating the city’s curfew laws.
"No good comes from letting a child who is underage run the streets at night," said Deputy Police Commissioner Patricia Giorgio-Fox.
Rather than pick up curfew violators on the street and take them home, police now transport those youngsters to the curfew center. A staff member calls a parent, who must come to the center to get the child.
If that doesn’t happen, or if there may be questions about the child’s safety in the home, the youngster will be taken to the city Department of Human Services in the morning.
Staffed by professionals and more than 70 community volunteers, the first center opened a year ago at the Dixon House in South Philadelphia.
The result: Police saw not only a distinct decrease in juvenile shooting victims and assailants — 60 to 70 percent in that area — but a change in the neighborhood.
"In that area there is a distinct improvement between police, community and children," Giorgio-Fox said.
So far, six centers operate in police districts across the city, including one at the Frankford Group Ministry, in the lower end of the 15th district. The mayor intends to open six more before the summer is out.
According to Street, the program has received national recognition as one of the great innovations in cities across the country. Volunteers are vital to the success of the centers.
"We need caring neighbors like you to greet the kids," said City Managing Director Loree Jones.
Volunteers undergo criminal-background checks, including child-abuse clearance, and receive several hours of training that is intended to promote a calm atmosphere; emphasize that volunteers cannot physically restrain anyone; and that a police officer will be present.
Staffers are, however, expected to report suspicions that youngsters may be subjected to abuse or neglect at home.
The newest center is expected to be placed in the upper end of the 2nd district, so that it may also serve the 7th Police District. Requests for proposals from organizations looking to host the center are being accepted through July 31. Information is available at www.philasafesound.org
Two more meetings will be held to provide additional details on how the centers operate, including another meeting today (Wednesday) at 6 p.m. at Max Myers Playground.
"If we organize and you come to a meeting three times, you can be pretty sure the community is interested," Street said. ••
For more information, call Ronald George, DHS project manager of violence prevention initiatives, at 215-683-6073.