Local stuff that matters to you.

Did you know about Bridges and Blinking Lights — playing at City Tavern this Friday?

News & events for

Tuesday, December

45° F
Light rain in DFW

Happy Holidays!

Multimedia:

Marketplace:

Sunday, May 27, 2007 , Updated

Local Department of Justice Weed and Seed programs in danger

by Mike Orren

Weed and Seed

Weed and Seed (official site)
DOJ description of 2008 funding (Word doc)
National Association of Police Organizations analysis (PDF)
DOJ testimony before US House committee (PDF)
Form to fax your congressional representatives via the web in support of Weed and Seed

I received an email from the Ferguson Road Initiative Weed and Seed folks this weekend with news that FY 2008 funding for all Weed and Seed programs (not to mention many other Department of Justice grants) is in jeopardy.

President Bush's 2008 budget reduces funding for state and local law enforcement assistance grant programs by 54%, from $2.6 billion in 2007 to $1.2 billion in 2008. A wide array of programs like Weed and Seed are to be consolidated under the "Byrne Public Safety and Protection Program."

In 2007, Weed and Seed accounted for $59 million of DOJ spending. The entire consolidated Byrne program is $350 million.

There are active Weed and Seed programs in White Rock Hills, Fair Park, Pleasant Grove, Old East Dallas, West Dallas, Near Southeast Fort Worth and Grand Prairie.

I'm no lawyer or legislator, but reading the description of the program, it sounds to me like Weed and Seed programs would definitely not be funded:

Byrne Public Safety and Protection (Byrne) Program

$350 million in total funding requested for this new program. This initiative will consolidate OJP’s most successful State and local law enforcement assistance programs into a single, flexible, competitive discretionary grant program that will help State, local, and tribal governments develop programs appropriate to the particular needs of their jurisdictions. Through a competitive grant process, OJP will assist State and local governments in addressing a number of high-priority concerns, such as: (1) reducing violent crime at the local levels through the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative; (2) addressing the criminal justice issues surrounding substance abuse through drug courts, residential treatment for prison inmates, prescription drug monitoring programs, methamphetamine enforcement and lab cleanup, and cannabis eradication efforts; (3) promoting and enhancing law enforcement information sharing efforts through improved and more accurate criminal history records; (4) improving the capacity of State and local law enforcement and justice system personnel to make use of forensic evidence and reducing DNA evidence analysis backlogs; (5) addressing domestic trafficking in persons; (6) improving and expanding prisoner re-entry initiatives; (7) improving services to victims of crime to facilitate their participation in the legal process; and others.

Compare that to the description of the existing DOJ Weed and Seed program:

Weed and Seed, a community-based strategy sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), is an innovative, comprehensive multiagency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and community revitalization.

The Byrne program looks much narrower in focus and would not likely leave the local latitude to address problems of local importance over these national target initiatives. More disturbingly, I see nothing in the Byrne program that addresses community revitalization and economic development, which is the entire "Seed" part of the Weed and Seed program.

Area Weed and Seed programs

While consolidation of programs may sound great for efficiency's sake, I doubt that there is $1.4 billion in efficiency to be gained here -- clearly, local programs are going to lose funding. There are no clear guidelines for who is going to get money, and Weed and Seed programs will be up against human trafficking programs and vice-versa, again meaning that spotlight national policies are more likely to get attention than local needs.

As our regular readers know, this is a program that is near and dear to my heart -- one which was even an early inspiration for our focus on neighborhood news. It's made a big difference in crime rates just west of my home, and is just now taking root in my neighborhood.

The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America has a handy form you can fill out which will send a form fax to all of your congressional representatives urging that they protect the Weed and Seed program.

Ferguson Road Initiative's letter to Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Dear Congresswoman Johnson:

I am writing to please urge you to support the highest possible funding level, but no less than the FY 2007 appropriated level of $59 million for the Weed and Seed program in the FY 2008 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill. The Weed and Sed program has historically received its own appropriation within the CJS Appropriations Bill. However, the President's FY 2008 Budget Request recommends consolidating a number of programs, including the Weed and Seed program, into one competitive grant program, the Byrne Public Safety and Protection Program.

This recommendation would be detrimental to the Ferguson Road Initiative (FRI) Operation Weed and Seed Program, a program located in YOUR district. You and your staff have excellent relationships with the Ferguson Road Initiative and you are well aware of our successes. Ms. Johnson, FRI W & S has:

· Reduced overall crime by 31% in the FRI graduated Weed & Seed area & decreased violent crime 40% over the last 5 years

· Unified communities, helping to form or enhance CrimeWatch organizations & neighborhood associations (from 5 to 20 organizations since 2000)

· Improved academic scores at Bayles Elem Sch significantly, with a goal of becoming a Blue Ribbon Sch & exemplary by 2010

· Created educational programs, annually serving over 500 children & their families

· Reversed declining property values & seen an increase of 30%

· Facilitated $50 million in investment along the Ferguson Road corridor including affordable, middle & high income housing & retail

· Mobilized communities to advocate for & achieve over $30 million in capital improvements from City Bond Programs for park enhancements, bridge replacement, erosion control projects, flood mitigation, & most notably, a regional Recreation Center & Library for the White Rock Hills area

· Obtained $1 million in funding to begin a new DOJ W & S site in the FRI 2 Points area (east of Ferguson Road at Buckner Blvd & Peavy Roads), currently one of the highest crime areas in Dallas

Congressman Johnson, I urge you to ensure that the W & S program receive the highest possible funding levels in the FY 2008 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, but no less than the FY 2007 appropriated level of $59 million. This is critical in order for the program to maintain its unique, multi-sector, community-based approach to preventing crime and drug abuse prevention. Thank you for your consideration and friendship.

Sincerely,

Vikki J. Martin, Executive Director (pro bono)

Ferguson Road Initiative Weed and Seed

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

Michael Davis, says:

This absolutely sucks.

When I was a member of the Dallas Community Development Commission (the city board that allocated CDBG funds), I fought to get the Pleasant Grove weed & seed money.

I was looking forward to working with some of these groups that are near Dallas District 4.

Verified

2 years, 6 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Sanders Kaufman, says:

I'm all for funding the cops and the firefighters - but I gotta say, I'm okay with cutting funding to these little programs.

If the community wants extra crime-prevention efforts - they should fund it themselves.

It's not hard and it's not expensive. We already have neighborhood crime watch programs that are fully funded. All that's required of the community is that they be willing to look out their own windows, walk down their own streets and call the cops when they see a crime committed.

If the community is not willing to do that - no level of federal hand-outs can make them.

The problem in Pleasant Grove is that the folks don't want to bring REAL cops into their community.

Verified

2 years, 6 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Mike Orren, says:

Sanders, two things:

Most of this money goes towards putting additional police in the neighborhoods, something the hoods couldn't do for themselves.

And, I'd point you towards the achievements cited in Vikki's letter. Seem worthwhile to me, although I'm somewhat biased:

Reduced overall crime by 31% in the FRI graduated Weed & Seed area & decreased violent crime 40% over the last 5 years
Unified communities, helping to form or enhance CrimeWatch organizations & neighborhood associations (from 5 to 20 organizations since 2000)
Improved academic scores at Bayles Elem Sch significantly, with a goal of becoming a Blue Ribbon Sch & exemplary by 2010
Created educational programs, annually serving over 500 children & their families
Reversed declining property values & seen an increase of 30%
Facilitated $50 million in investment along the Ferguson Road corridor including affordable, middle & high income housing & retail
Mobilized communities to advocate for & achieve over $30 million in capital improvements from City Bond Programs for park enhancements, bridge replacement, erosion control projects, flood mitigation, & most notably, a regional Recreation Center & Library for the White Rock Hills area
Obtained $1 million in funding to begin a new DOJ W & S site in the FRI 2 Points area (east of Ferguson Road at Buckner Blvd & Peavy Roads), currently one of the highest crime areas in Dallas

Staff

2 years, 6 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Sanders Kaufman, says:

I don't really believe those stats. They're fragmented, and with no attribution. That's a great big red flag that they are more PR than anything else.

And THAT is what my conservative self doesn't like about these little programs. I think they're just PR efforts.

For example - you claim that W&S reduced violent crime by 40%. But in fact, it appears that violent crime throughout Dallas fell by about the same rate - taking us off of the top spot for violent crimes in the nation.

To me - W&S appears to be more of a federally funded social club than anything else.

Honestly - if W&S doesn't get federal funding, will the members just give up and accept the status quo? Is the prospect of getting millions of federal dollars the only thing that keeps the group together?

I don't think so. I think that if the community wants to put together a Crime Watch program, they'll do so with or without federal funding.

But again - I approach this from a conservative point of view. That means that I'm okay with tax dollars being used to fund GOVERNMENT activities - but not for subsidizing social groups - like W&S, the Boy Scouts and the churches.

We already have a fully funded city council that is tasked with the responsibilities W&S tries to pick up - so W&S's activities are redundant. If they're not doing their job the way y'all want - creating ANOTHER taxpayer-funded group to do it is not a solution.

Verified

2 years, 6 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Michael Davis, says:

If you walk the neighborhood that FRI serves, especially the south end, it's obvious that more help is needed for this area. All that talk about "subsidizing" and it being "pr efforts" sounds ridiculous.

After you take a trip on Dilido, Senate, St. Francis, Chenault, and other roads, and see if this is needed.

If you study how other cities with moderate incomes have fought crime and other dangers, this is how its been done. With these types of programs. We have to get out of our Dallas way of thinking.

Verified

2 years, 6 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Sanders Kaufman, says:

That's true - these citizen programs are a great way to fight crime - after the fact.

But if you want to PREVENT crime, nothing beats a strong police presence in the neighborhood.

Verified

2 years, 6 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Mike Orren, says:

...which is what the overwhelming majority of the Weed and Seed funds pay for: "a strong police presence in the neighborhood." I've pointed that out numerous times in these discussions Sanders, but you seem determined to ignore that.

Staff

2 years, 6 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

interestedcitizen, says:

How does a government that is over 7 trillion in debt and goes further into debt every year have any thing to give away? Aren't CDBGs really debts the next generation is going to have to repay? If we know that, and we care for our children how can we ignore the wisdom of James Madison who said, in the Federalist No. 45, that matters of "internal order, improvement and prosperity of the states" are reserved to the states?

Sanders is right. Policing should be strictly funded locally.

Anonymous

2 years, 6 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

tryerson, says:

Sanders,

I work within the Pleasant Grove area working in the high school with the highest crime rate in the entire area. I am also honored to stand beside a Dallas Police Officer, who I might add is a real cop and fights real crime on a daily basis. I also had the honor of working with the Ferguson Road Initiative 2 years ago and know first hand the good the program brought to the students of Area 8. First question for you to think about - How can neighborhood watch programs work in a neighborhood whose crime rate is rampant? Do you realize that while there are many good people in the Pleasant Grove area, crime is rampant. Have you looked at the shortage of officers within the Dallas police department? How can the Dallas Police Department provide education on crime and drugs for the thousands of children who see crime and drugs as a way of life? Do you realize the number of children who are joining gangs on a daily basis, participating in gang activity, and recruiting new gang members? Do you understand how many parents of these children are new to the United States and do not understand gangs, how to identify the signs of gang activity, and how to prevent or remove their children from gangs? The police force cannot do it alone. Furthermore, many neighborhoods are incapable of putting neighborhood watch programs in force. Pleasant Grove is not Plano. We truly need the assistance of programs like Weed and Seed that work within our communities to decrease crime and increase awareness. I promise I can make you a believer - please join me at the school to meet the youth who deserve a second chance in life.