"Concentrated poverty created by concentrated public housing is a key factor in the crime that persists in Parker Gray. " So wrote Gerri Madrid-Davis in her recent letter to the Alexandria Gazette.
She was reacting to a quote by ARHA Chairman Melvin Miller in the previous week's issue of the Gazette: "When I look at the police reports, I don’t see any indication crime is higher around public housing than anywhere else in the city."
Let readers be the judge of the data. The Growler has assembled crime statistics from the Alexandria Police Department's online crime database from January 1, 2009 to the present for Census Tract 16, which comprises Parker-Gray as well as the area around the Braddock Metro.
For reporting purposes, the census tract is broken down into sub-tracts, and crimes reported for each sub-tract. Subtracts A, B, and C are the northernmost; J, K and L are the closest to King Street. Click here to see a police map of the Census tracts.
What relationships do YOU see?
An addendum to Michael Lee Pope's original story in the Gazette on homicide in our neighborhood. Here is a document compiled by the Growler -- again from the Police Department statistics -- demonstrating that nearly 40% of the homicides in Alexandria since January 1, 2005 have taken place in this neighborhood, which is only a small section of the total geographic area of the City.
Mr. Pope pointed out that several of the crimes, such as the double murder on N. Patrick Street, were committed on public housing property or by residents of public housing.
After checking court records, the Growler can confirm that one of the suspects in the Siddiqi murder case lived in public housing on Yale Drive, and that Sebastian Carter who murdered Lawrence Sims in December 2005 was a former resident of Andrew Adkins.
37 comments:
In addition to looking at crime stats, why don't we also look at the data from the schools?
For example, what percentage of J-H students lives in ARHA managed properties versus the student population in other schools? Is there any correlation between these figures and student achievement?
The real question is not what percentage of crimes happen near concentrated public housing but what percentage of crimes were committed by individuals who live or lived in public housing.
Frankly, we dump people in concentrated public housing where there is a pervasive culture of apathy, violence, poverty, lack of personal responsibility, etc. And to make matters worse, we send the kids to schools populated almost exclusively by public housing residents. What the hell do we expect?
Frankly, Melvin Miller and Bill Euille fall squarely within the mold of self-serving hucksters such as Marion Barry, Maxine Waters, and Al Sharpton who blame high rates of poverty, incarceration, violence, teen pregnancy, etc. on racism and fail to expect more from their constituents. And naive politicians (a la Krupicka) are only too happy to play along in the tragic believe that they are "helping the children."
The facts are overwhelming that concentrated public housing doesn't work. Yet we continue. As long as we keep this system up, nothing is going to change.
I agree with the two prior posters. But I would add that the crime problem can be viewed from yet another angle by those who choose to hold ARHA blameless.
Lets pretend that public housing residents in PG were never the source of quality of life issues in our neighborhood. The unassailable fact that the public housing complexes ATTRACT trouble to our neighborhood remains and should stand by itself as sufficient reason to rethink Res 830.
I just left my house in the 500 block of N. Alfred to find about 6 police cars and 3 fire trucks in the 600 block of N. Alfred (closer to Whyte). I walked around the corner onto Pendelton and was stopped by an officer asking if I had seen a suspect running in the neighborhood (I'll leave the description out of this post). During my 3 block walk I saw other police cars in and out of the alleyways.
Who is to say what happened moments ago... but I'm betting someone was assaulted. Two assaults in broad daylight in less than 2 weeks?!! That's all the data I need.
"The unassailable fact that the public housing complexes ATTRACT trouble to our neighborhood remains and should stand by itself as sufficient reason to rethink Res 830."
EXACTLY! A large percentage of the, um, customers, I see purchasing from the local drug dealer across from Bland's east side are driving MD or DC plated cars. Those with VA plates often have someting indicating that they are from outside of the PG area, such as parking permits for apartments or bumper stickers for schools elsewhere in metro VA (and yeah, I'm talking to you Ms. Green Minivan with the My Child is an Honor Student at Blah Blah Blah middle school)
When I lived in East Capitol Hill a long time ago, DC had an ordinance (and signs) announcing that anybody caught purchasing drugs in the area would have their car automatically seized and sold at auction. Seemed to do quite a bit to cut down on people coming to the area to buy their drugs.
Wonder if that would help here?
Also, please notice that the local dealer I'm referring to sets up across from Bland. Not in it. I guess that's how Miller sees things... if its on the sidewalk side of the wrought iron fences at Bland then its not on ARHA property. Clever, huh?
I was not aware that one of the suspects in the Siddiqi murder was a former public housing resident.
Thats just great.
"For example, what percentage of J-H students lives in ARHA managed properties versus the student population in other schools? Is there any correlation between these figures and student achievement?"
Sorry but I think this comment takes us off point. Everyone knows this neighborhood's segregation history especially the educational legacy. My question is: why does Melvin Miller continue to justify this crap? What does he personally gain by holding residents down?
"My question is: why does Melvin Miller continue to justify this crap? What does he personally gain by holding residents down?"
The problem is he doesnt believe he is holding the public housing residents down. He believes most people in PG are just gentrifiers who want to kick everyone out.
Thats why people cant stand him anymore as ARHA Chairman. He has no flexibility in his viewpoints. How do you talk to someone who thinks you are racist anytime you ask him to reconsider his beliefs?
The data seems indisputable.I am not sure why the Mayor even entertains a debate on the issue at this point.
I'm off point for a second but THANK YOU growler for not letting this issue go untalked about for awhile like you said you would.
I was walking past Wythe street from Alfred and too was asked if I had see a descripiton of a suspect I won't disclose. I will be asking thursday night what happened and I better not get the same old story, "it's confidential or under investigation" that we always get.
I have two small ones and a third on the way, i hate to give up a fight but if the City Officials won't change their attitudes, I'll change something.
My address. A decent parent will not put anything above the safety of her children.
I can see already from the comments here that this meeting is one the should NOT be missed. Please lets show a strong unification, especially to the new council members.
We want change, and We won't leave you alone until we are no longer considered the first place homicide winners of Alexandria.
CTM,
Change the mentality
If the above comments and crimes, do not show the need for the replacement of our second officer, than please tell me what will?
CTM,
I love it!
CHANGE THE MENTALITY!!!!
New slogan / catchphrase for Parker Gray.
It's better than "don't work or play in Parker Gray, if you wish to live another day.
To chief Baker, I applaude you for being a million times more proactive that the last chief, but look at what we are dealing with.
We want our second officer back and this neighborhood will not accept the SRT module you preport.
I like and encourage new ideas, but I hate to say this is starting to look like the Same Responsive Thing, that we have always dealt with.
In reference to Dougs comment one of your PG residents sitting in his own house shot himself by accident.
Lets get facts before blame is place folks
"He believes most people in PG are just gentrifiers who want to kick everyone out."
How trite! When I read Hamer's gentrification argument in the Braddock Road Small Area Plan I knew then she was a Miller apologist. Gentrification is a recycled argument from at least the 1980s yet staff repeated it page after page. In truth Miller's low income notions are class not race based.
"Thats why people cant stand him anymore as ARHA Chairman. He has no flexibility in his viewpoints. How do you talk to someone who thinks you are racist anytime you ask him to reconsider his beliefs?"
I think this comment hits the nail on the head.
I will NEVER forget watching Melvin Miller literally roll his eyes on the mayor's walk as we residents tried to discuss problems with our neighborhood ARHA properties.
I really believe either Melvin Miller hates white people or he believes we hate him. Maybe his attitude is understandable, given this country's race history. But it's certainly not productive or acceptable for someone in his position.
And I really believe that the city council thinks they are "helping" the City's underprivileged by insisting that Resolution 830 be preserved. I think, too, that their attitude is understandable, given that none of them lives across from ARHA projects like we do and deal daily with the problems this policy causes.
And I really believe that council is able to continue its ridiculous public housing policies because the majority of Alexandria citizens are caring, want to do the right thing, and help others, but have absolutely no idea how destructive it is. I know I didn't have a CLUE until I moved here a decade ago.
The problem is that they are all so wrong. How can we here in PG make them understand? We simply MUST make things better, but it feels sometimes that we are beating our heads against a brick wall.
"In reference to Dougs comment one of your PG residents sitting in his own house shot himself by accident.
Lets get facts before blame is place folks"
If the resident shot himself, why was it necessary for the police to respond in a massive fashion and block off alleys and streets and ask local passerby for a description of the suspect?
Even if your tale is true, it just goes to show you that even the police expect the worse when they get a call for service in PG now.
The Madison brawl this weekend brought more than 15 cop cars to Madison and Fayette and shut down the street. Do tell how many times that occurs in Rosemont or Cameron Station.
"When I read Hamer's gentrification argument in the Braddock Road Small Area Plan I knew then she was a Miller apologist."
What is the difference between a white block buster living somewhere in Parker Gray and a black block buster who lives on Colonel Ellis Avenue? Both of us presumably are looking for a peaceful middle class neighborhood in which to live. Why does Mr. Miller wish to punish those of us who prefer to live near metro?
"In reference to Dougs comment one of your PG residents sitting in his own house shot himself by accident"
What the heck is everyone talking about?
"And I really believe that council is able to continue its ridiculous public housing policies because the majority of Alexandria citizens are caring, want to do the right thing, and help others, but have absolutely no idea how destructive it is. "
I disagree with this. I think the majority of citizens know that they dont want public housing near where they live.
They may say they are "compassionate" and "caring" but in reality they want to have that caring occur far far away from them.
As long as public housing is far away from them most residents dont care how many units exist. As soon as it moves into their neighborhood, it all changes.
Ask yourself what the response of the Cameron Station HOA would be if they were told that Adkins is replacing Virginia Paving. In fact, ask the Mayor and Melvin Miller.
"What is the difference between a white block buster living somewhere in Parker Gray and a black block buster who lives on Colonel Ellis Avenue?"
Big difference. Miller and Euille would argue they stepped up in class.
Speaking of attracting crime to the neighborhood, get a load of this item from the planning commission docket:
SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2009-0035
506 NORTH HENRY STREET
SHANGHAI PEIKING
Public hearing and consideration of a request for a change of ownership and for an amendment
to allow alcohol sales at an existing restaurant; zoned CRMU-H/Commercial Residential Mixed Use-High. Applicant: Mei Duan Lin
"We want our second officer back and this neighborhood will not accept the SRT module you preport.
I like and encourage new ideas, but I hate to say this is starting to look like the Same Responsive Thing, that we have always dealt with."
I agree and disagree. I agree that the second community officer should never have been taken away. Once you loose something this, it is almost impossible to get it back, especially during budget problems. Again, never should have happened.
I do believe that I see more cops on the street since Baker took the helm. The response time to the incident ("The Madison brawl this weekend brought more than 15 cop cars to Madison and Fayette and shut down the street.") should show that there are 15 officers available to respond to a problem in a short period of time. I never used to see that 10 years ago.
I also work in Old Town as well. I now see familiar officers on a daily basis on my walk to and from work. Seeing the same cop over and over makes me feel more comfortable in approaching and speaking with them.
Totally different from when I was in the District for 4 years. So whatever system he is using, it is (in this person mind) putting (or appearing to put) more officers on the street.
That being said, you can put one on every corner of Old Town and crime will occur if the underlying factor of concentrated public housing is not addressed or fixed.
"That being said, you can put one on every corner of Old Town and crime will occur if the underlying factor of concentrated public housing is not addressed or fixed."
Yep - that's the thing. The dispatchers notwithstanding, our police are uniformly excellent. They are not the problem.
We've got to get those ivory tower council members and judges on board. Otherwise, the council keeps filling the projects with thugs, the police keep arresting them, and the judges keep letting them go....
And naive politicians (a la Krupicka) are only too happy to play along in the tragic believe that they are "helping the children."
Oh, I wouldn't use the word "naive" in describing our fine elected officials....
As long as we are on the topic, I too believe that the loss of the neighborhoods second community officer should not be swallowed so easily, especially with the recent spike in violent crimes.
On another point, I am grateful to the detectives and prosecutors for their ability to solve these murders and successfully prosecute them.
In our neighborhood, with the exception of the 400 block of North Patrick Street case (which still blows my mind that no one saw anything) and the body dump on North Columbus Street, they are 7 for 9. I know that 80% isn't 100%, and this is what they get paid to do, but my cousin who is a cop in a city our size, just outside of Detroit, told me about homicides in the areas where he works. He says they are lucky if 30% of the cases ever get solved.
Back to the point, I was hoping that the ICCA board would ask (yet again) in front of the new council and the mayor, if the second community position can be refilled. I believe I remember a prior ICCA meeting where the Police Dept. (I think it was the Chief himself) said that if statistics showed the need to for this, the issue could be revisited.
I believe the stats and data do show that our area is in need of the attention. These waves have been happening quite often in the last year or so. I don't believe this is just another summertime problem.
Quoting a previous poster, I too do not want to be known as the community that wins first place in the cities homicide contest.
With the amount of violent crimes happening as of late and the cities refusal to address public housing concerns, I don't think requesting to get back what was taken from us is that much to ask for.
Thoughts? Does anyone think that a second officer who knows the area and the people would not benefit us, even if just a little?
"Yep - that's the thing. The dispatchers notwithstanding, our police are uniformly excellent."
I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels this way. I hate calling the non-emergency line because of the attitudes and tones that make me feel like I'm speaking with Mr. Miller himself.
Has there ever been any discussion about setting up a police substation in PG? I find it laughable that they have one at Potomac Yard, but not here.
Although upon second thought, I guess I don't want to see one built here because building it would be the strongest sign that public housing is really here to stay.
"I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels this way. I hate calling the non-emergency line because of the attitudes and tones that make me feel like I'm speaking with Mr. Miller himself."
Those dispatchers are THE WORST. Despite being treated like dirt, I keep calling, though. The APD seems to live by statistics, so I figure calling is worth it so the complaint gets recorded. I know other neighbors disagree, so I think crime is actually underreported here. For example, my neighbors house was vandalized, but they didn't call it in, figuring it was a hassle and there was nothing to be done anyway.
I cannot attend the ICCA meeting tonight due to another obligation but I look forward to hearing what comes out of the meeting.
Can someone bluntly ask the mayor what would happen if violent crimes took place in front of his home AND his business? I obviously live in PG and I work only three blocks from home and have the unfortunate experience of violent crime happening within a few blocks of both my residence and office. Again, I would love to hear how the mayor would respond if someone asked him what he would want changed or to happen if murders or robbery at gunpoint happened at his home and place of business.
If you can't be there, you can still send an E-mail to the Mayor and Council -- click on the link on the right side of this blog page.
Re police substation -- in fact, there is currently one in the Colecroft Station building across from Metro. While it's not staffed full-time, it is regularly used by local police officers.
Just so you know, the guy that shot himself lied to police and said someone broke in his house and shot him - thus the numerous cops and the lookout for a suspect. Charming residents ...
I was impressed with the turnout at this evening's meeting. I think it's clear that Chief Baker and the police department have things well in hand and are doing their job extremely well.
At the same time, I was disappointed at the defensive responses by the mayor on the topic of public housing.
While the new Council will most certainly address dispersion of public housing with new economic development plans (I still state that I am in favor of vouchers and the dissolution of public housing), it is clear that the City government, including ARHA, must stand up and accept public accountability and admonition for failing to provide an adequate standard of housing.
Admitting fault and accepting accountability are the first steps to healing long-festering wounds and moving forward. As long as the City points with pride to its ability to house people in developments such as the Berg and Bland, there can be no healing. I believe the divisive attitudes presented at this evening's meeting are directly attributable to the City's failure to deliver viable public housing. Providing families with substandard housing is no feat and is a disgrace.
Heal wounds by accepting accountability; improve the quality of public housing; disperse public housing; and (in my opinion) move to vouchers.....and many PG concerns might be resolved.
It all starts with the prime mover: City Government.
"At the same time, I was disappointed at the defensive responses by the mayor on the topic of public housing."
Having lived here for many years, I was not surprised at the mayor's attempt to dodge the issue. I've seen him at several events such as ICCA meetings, mayors walks, and the Braddock Road planning events. He CONSISTENTLY spews meaningless crap about caring communities, coming together, blah, blah, blah. So I expected nothing more from him last night.
What did surprise and delight me, however, was the brilliant performance of the ICCA officers and neighbors who REFUSED to back down and accept his crap.
Message to Euille: work with us on this or get the hell out of the way. We're not going to stand for your crap any more. Enough about quality of life meetings, consultants, committees, and other delaying tactics.
People are quite clearly PISSED and extremely tired of your politiciany BS. Moreover, the neighbors are no longer fearful about speaking up on this public housing issue. Although a few attempted to dust off the race card, their sad attempts fell flat, thanks to Leslie's beautiful handling of the matter.
Anyone with half a brain knows that if we were racists, PG would be the last place we'd choose to live. So get over it.
Well done by the ICCA.
"As long as the City points with pride to its ability to house people in developments such as the Berg and Bland, there can be no healing. I believe the divisive attitudes presented at this evening's meeting are directly attributable to the City's failure to deliver viable public housing. Providing families with substandard housing is no feat and is a disgrace."
I couldn't agree more. I was very pleased to hear from the new council members that they were all in favor of dispersing public housing. Please note, however, that we heard the same crap from the old members who all then turned around and approved the Bland project which was a sham at dispersing public housing. As a result, I voted against all the incumbents. And I did not vote for Euille.
I will do the same to the new council members unless I see some immediate and concrete action to implement the Fair Share recommendations.
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