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Councilman Greg Stanton
North Central News Column
January 2007
Block Watch E-mail Chain Helps Fight Crime
Residents of the Rancho Solano Neighborhood are part of a crime-fighting team, lauded by the Phoenix Police for their work keeping their neighborhood safe.
The neighborhood, roughly between Bethany Home Road and Montebello Avenue and Central and Seventh avenues, has built up a strong Block Watch, thanks in great part to a superb system that gives a technological twist to the old idea of a phone chain.
Block Watch Coordinator Kathy Seid has built up a broad e-mail list and instantaneously shares anything of concern in the neighborhood with the whole group. Through e-mail, the telephone, and even knocking on doors, almost all of the 90 households in the neighborhood stay in touch.
As a member of the City Council Public Safety Subcommittee and the representative for north central Phoenix, I applaud the work of Kathy and her neighbors as a great example that all neighborhoods can follow.
"It is my goal to eventually have all north central neighborhoods organized with Block Watch and connected by e-mail," said Kathy.
"Having more eyes and ears out there helps us make a safer neighborhood for them," said Community Action Officer David Chambers, who works closely with Rancho Solano and many other north central neighborhoods.
Kathy's e-mails spread the word about things others have witnessed, like unfamiliar intruders in people's yards, giving descriptions and tips for what to do. Recently, two different residents recognized someone from a description in one of the e-mails. Both called the Police Crime Stop number and officers came and questioned the person while he was still there. That's a great example of how Rancho Solano's teamwork pays off.
The e-mails also provide important tips on what to do if you are witnessing something that looks like a crime or a danger to the neighborhood:
- Always call 911 first to report situations requiring an immediate emergency response
- Call Crime Stop, 602-262-6151, to report anything suspicious or anything after the fact that doesn't need an immediate response
- Call Premier Patrol, 602-241-1109, to report a suspicious person or vehicle that you have reported to police and police were unable to locate
Kathy also encourages her neighbors to call her and let her know about anything, so she can spread the word.
A few other north central neighborhoods have similar e-mail chains and my office and police will help spread the practice any way we can. Kathy's e-mail address is emailus@theseids.com, if you'd like to contact her for advice.
Let's follow this great example, come together with our neighbors to help keep everyone safe, and work as a team with each other and police to maintain and improve the already great quality of life we have in north central Phoenix.
Phoenix City Councilman Greg Stanton represents north central Phoenix and is a member of the City Council Public Safety Subcommittee. If you have any questions, please call Councilman Stanton's office at 602-262-7491, e-mail greg.stanton@phoenix.gov or visit phoenix.gov/district6.
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