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Featured Article |
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Is there really something wrong with our
PSA--or are we all just too busy to
attend their monthly meeting?
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Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Alliance
Newsletter |
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As we say goodbye to 2008, please
remember those who are in need and give
what you can. To our Members and
friends, we extend our Best Wishes for a
Joyous Holiday Season and a Successful
New Year!
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News on PSA 301
This month, ANC1D passed a resolution
stating that there is "broad
dissatisfaction" with the current
processes of operation in PSA301, and in
particular with the PSA's
lack
of consultation with ANC1D and the full
range of civic groups in Mt Pleasant.
This resolution received a vote of 5-0,
yet only Commissioner
McKay
has taken the time to attend PSA
meetings consistently in the past 2
years.
Let's look at the current processes of
operation in PSA 301. When it comes to the
deployment of police personnel, it is clear
that all of us share the same goal: namely,
to put more officers on the street -
patrolling our neighborhoods, answering
calls for service, working with the
community to prevent crime, addressing
priority problems through focused law
enforcement, and engaging in the myriad
other activities that define a true,
community oriented police department.
The way to be consulted is to ATTEND the
PSA
meetings. Residents from nearby apartment
buildings and troubled spot areas of the
neighborhood who do attend faithfully get
direct face time with
MPD
officers. Other agencies, such as
CSOSA,
representatives from the Executive Office of
the Mayor,
and Council Member
Graham's
office are also in attendance to answer
questions and coordinate city efforts
together. PSA 301 has also moved the PSA
meetings around the neighborhood--to the
Woodner
Apartments, and to
Marx Cafe
to get more people involved. PSA 301
officers are active on the web forum
answering questions posted to them
directly.
Operation LiveLink is another
community-policing tool used and discussed
at PSA meetings. The
ANC
is included on the PSA agenda.
If the ANC, local businesses and any other
civic groups aren't being consulted, as
noted in the resolution, we invite you to
attend a PSA meeting. There are held every
second Wednesday of the month, 7:00 pm at
the Mount Pleasant Library. Everyone is
welcomed. That way, all residents, groups,
businesses, and civic leaders can
collaborate with the police and DC
Government representatives together.
Let's keep our officers on the streets and
not bog them down attending individual
meetings. That's what the PSA meeting was
meant to do. |
MPNA Received CSOSA Commitment to Excellence
Award
On September 30, 2008, MPNA received the
CSOSA Commitment to Excellence Award in
recognition of the its dedication to
community engagement in working toward
successful offender reintegration.
Offender reentry is the process through
which an individual goes to prison and
returns, trying to establish a
crime-free life, reconnect with family,
and contribute to his or her own
community. According to CSOSA, between
2002 and 2005, 2,194 offenders have
returned from prison to CSOSA
supervision. The core of CSOSA's
mission is to increase public safety and
prevent crime by reducing recidivism.
To do this, CSOSA works to reduce
rearrests, improve education levels,
increase employment rates, and reduce
drug use among the population it serves.
Pursuing these goals requires strategic
coordination between CSOSA, other
government agencies, and community
organizations through all 3 stages of
reentry - prison, transition, and
community integration. In the past year
MPNA has partnered with CSOSA on
providing opportunities for community
service for offenders as well as helped
organize and host a Employment Forum for
offenders in Ward 1 providing numerous
employment and training opportunities.
MPNA looks forward to continuing the
partnership and finding more ways to
collaborate and contribute to successful
reentry for offenders in the 3rd
District and District of Columbia
overall.
If anyone is interested in volunteering
in this endeavor, please
contact us.
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Operation
LiveLink Needs Your Help!
Over the last few months, volunteers
have distributed thousands of flyers to
Mount Pleasant residents educating them
on Operation LiveLink.
MPNA's program really needs more money. Our
group is doing a fine job of covering our
operational costs, but an effective outreach
program will cost money; money we can't
afford. We are doing the best we can right
now with flyers, listserve e-mails, and
announcements at our PSA meetings to make
sure that community members are aware of
Operation LiveLink, but it will take more
advertising to keep call volumes growing.
MPNA would like to see Operation LiveLink
flourish. We all believe in the
capabilities of this program. Operation
LiveLink can:
* Ease the panic in our community, and
give people more
peace of mind;
* Help police prevent crime more
effectively through
real-time information;
* Compensate for the shortcomings of
the 911 system;
* Encourage residents to report crimes
regularly, including
Spanish-speaking residents;
* Create a stronger partnership between
the MPD and the
community through one-on-one
communications;
* Enable regular opportunities for MPD
to have positive
interactions with the commuinty,
build trust, and show
responsiveness.
MPNA has been working very hard lately
including working with our joint LiveLink
partner, the NW Columbia Heights Community
Association. However, outreach and
advertising will be the "tail that wags the
dog" in making our program a successful,
sustainable part of Ward 1's crime
prevention strategy. It's really up to us.
Please consider
giving today.
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Support Neighbors Consejo
Neighbors' Consejo would like to take the time and greet each and every
one of you this holiday season! With your
support, they were able to continue services
to the disenfranchised community they
continue to
serve on a daily basis. Please take a few
moments to open their greeting
card. |
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Sincerely,
Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Alliance
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