The Westwood Rental Renaissance Team (WRRT) recently received national recognition for closing a crime-ridden, 156-unit apartment complex, working with police to shut down an illegal, after-hours club that was the source of constant gunfire and prostitution, and also for providing approximately 300 underprivileged children with food and gifts.

The American Society for Public Administration presented the WRRT, comprised of staff from the Neighborhood Services, Police, Parks and Recreation and Law departments and Westwood Community Association members, with a Superior Service Award for its approach to fighting crime and blight in the Westwood community.

The WRRT was formed in 1998 to address the rampant crime and blight affecting the one-square-mile, west Phoenix neighborhood bounded by Camelback and Indian School roads and 25^th and 19^th avenues that includes more than 11,000 residents and 120 apartment complexes. The group developed and implemented an action plan that included aggressive law and neighborhood preservation ordinances enforcement.

"The Westwood Rental Renaissance Team is a good example of the positive synergy made possible by interdepartmental and neighborhood association partnership and collaboration at its very best," said Jerome Miller, Neighborhood Services Department director.

"The team is to be commended for the way it embraced the Westwood community and for its dedication to transform it into a safer and healthier environment for families, schools and businesses," he added.

Information on neighborhood preservation and revitalization programs is available by calling the Neighborhood Services Department at 602-262-7344 or online at phoenix.gov/NSD/index.html.