On Point with Chris Papst
A New Way to Fight Crime
A New Way to Fight Crime If crime besieged your community, how would you protect your family, your property and yourself? One community in Harrisburg has devised an interesting solution. Over the past few years, municipalities throughout Pennsylvania and all around the nation have been struggling to pay their bills. Governments are faced with rising costs and decreasing revenue. Pensions, union costs and gas prices are taking their toll. As a result, elected leaders are being forced to make difficult and painful decisions. And when limits are placed on the availability of law enforcement, opportunistic criminals will take advantage.
Harrisburg is the perfect example. The city has all but financially collapsed under a suffocating debt and structural deficits. To make matters worse, the city has recently seen a spike in crime. Whether actual crime is up or down depends on what crimes you consider. But perception is reality and people are worried.
As a result, Harrisburg residents want more police hired. But the city simply can't afford it. So the midtown community is securing its own safety.
When most people think “midtown Harrisburg”, most don't think “crime”. And for good reason. The area is full of little shops and well-kempt homes. It's an inviting location for anyone interested in urban living. In an effort to make sure it stays that way, an Improvement District focused on reducing crime, has been proposed. The founders worked out a deal with the city to hire its off-duty police officers at a certain wage. If the plan is approved by the district's property owners, they will begin to pay a small monthly fee. It's similar to a Home Owners Association, except the money will only be used to hire police.
The average homeowner will pay $60 a year. Businesses will pay more. The money will not go to the city. It will fund an account established by the Improvement District. It's estimated the group will be able to hire as many as eight officers per night. But that number can be adjusted based on need. The program could be up-and-running in less than six months.
The people we spoke to liked the idea: “I think it's very important for us to get together and get more eyes out there because we can keep them [criminals] away,” said Dave Shewmon, a 21-year resident of midtown. “I think it's great when people don't just depend on a higher authority or government to take care of them,” added Joy Kudasik, a young woman who enjoys the area.
The group's founder, Eric Papenfuse is certain the proposal will be approved. “I think so many people have been affected by crime that they really feel now is the time to do something about it.” And the reality is, if the people don't do something about it, no one else will.
Papenfuse says that $60 investment more than pays for itself if one fewer window is broken or there's one fewer robbery. It's even possible homeowners' insurance could go down. Papenfuse understands the city is limited. He also understands safety is vital for an area to prosper.
The Midtown Improvement District has the potential to change the way Harrisburg and other cities fight crime. It's centralized, immediate and proactive. It could also become the new normal.
Chris Papst is an Emmy Award winning reporter for CBS-21 news. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter @chrispapst.
Harrisburg is the perfect example. The city has all but financially collapsed under a suffocating debt and structural deficits. To make matters worse, the city has recently seen a spike in crime. Whether actual crime is up or down depends on what crimes you consider. But perception is reality and people are worried.
As a result, Harrisburg residents want more police hired. But the city simply can't afford it. So the midtown community is securing its own safety.
When most people think “midtown Harrisburg”, most don't think “crime”. And for good reason. The area is full of little shops and well-kempt homes. It's an inviting location for anyone interested in urban living. In an effort to make sure it stays that way, an Improvement District focused on reducing crime, has been proposed. The founders worked out a deal with the city to hire its off-duty police officers at a certain wage. If the plan is approved by the district's property owners, they will begin to pay a small monthly fee. It's similar to a Home Owners Association, except the money will only be used to hire police.
The average homeowner will pay $60 a year. Businesses will pay more. The money will not go to the city. It will fund an account established by the Improvement District. It's estimated the group will be able to hire as many as eight officers per night. But that number can be adjusted based on need. The program could be up-and-running in less than six months.
The people we spoke to liked the idea: “I think it's very important for us to get together and get more eyes out there because we can keep them [criminals] away,” said Dave Shewmon, a 21-year resident of midtown. “I think it's great when people don't just depend on a higher authority or government to take care of them,” added Joy Kudasik, a young woman who enjoys the area.
The group's founder, Eric Papenfuse is certain the proposal will be approved. “I think so many people have been affected by crime that they really feel now is the time to do something about it.” And the reality is, if the people don't do something about it, no one else will.
Papenfuse says that $60 investment more than pays for itself if one fewer window is broken or there's one fewer robbery. It's even possible homeowners' insurance could go down. Papenfuse understands the city is limited. He also understands safety is vital for an area to prosper.
The Midtown Improvement District has the potential to change the way Harrisburg and other cities fight crime. It's centralized, immediate and proactive. It could also become the new normal.
Chris Papst is an Emmy Award winning reporter for CBS-21 news. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter @chrispapst.
