Citizens for a Safer San Leandro (CSSL) is joining with the Broadmoor Neighborhood Association and realtor Carol Kennedy to get the Recycling Center at the Bancroft Safeway moved out of our residential neighborhood. Lt. Christopher Tankson of the San Leandro Police Department spoke to our group on October 16 about the police efforts to crack down on scavenging from our recycling cans, which is against the law. Scavenging also brings strangers into our neighborhoods, who can bring problems with crime as well, as as Lt. Tankson pointed out. Please go to www.safersanleandro.org to view a video of Lt. Tankson’s remarks. Scavenging has a direct relation to the Recycling Center’s location in the neighborhood.

The LAMP [Lights Activated by Motion Project] rolled out its first pilot on a sunny Saturday in November with thirteen homes participating. A team of volunteers did the installation of motion-activated lighting on front, side and back porches. The motion kit also hasa transceiver that can turn on lights inside the home. Councilmember Michael Gregory selected the target neighborhood and donated the funds. For residents with limited income, subsidies were available. CSSL is able to obtain the “best price” through a bulk purchase agreement with X10. CSSL hopes to offer the same motion-activated light kit to individual homeowners. The kits do not require an electrician to install, as the sensor is battery-operated. The LAMP goal was to find a solution that was cost-effective, dependable, and easy to deploy without touching wiring. Police Chief Dale Attarian told us, “Motion detection lighting is a very cost-effective deterrent that helps to harden the target and deter criminal activity to your property.” The next CSSL meeting is Thursday, December 18 at 7:00 pm in the Trustee’s Room of the San Leandro Main Library. The public is welcome.

Here are some simple things you can do to improve your downtown. If there is a business you would like to see downtown, write to the business. Refer them to the Web site www.downtownsanleandro.com. If there is a business downtown that is unkempt and uninviting, talk to the owner.

Do you want to know about crime in your neighborhood or on your street? Go
to the San Leandro Police Department's new Web site: www.slpdinfo.org. Click on Crime Statistics and Crime Reports by neighborhood. At the bottom of the map, you can put your mouse on the blue menu item Legend to get the key to the symbols on the map. You will get the
latest information and can set the parameters for 3, 7, 14 or 30 days. You can also save the Web link in your Favorites so you can check on the latest crimes with just one click.

The City of San Leandro Recycling Program recently developed a cart sticker to place on your recycling carts to discourage theft of recyclables.

To view the sticker, go to Citizens for a Safer San Leandro Web site: www.safersanleandro.org. You can obtain the sticker by contacting: the City of San Leandro Recycling Program at (510) 577-6026 or by emailing recycle@ci.san-leandro.ca.us.

The LAMP [Lights Activated by Motion Project] is making progress on the Cherry Street pilot project to install motion activated lighting. The Cherry Street area was recommended by Councilmember Michael Gregory, who provided seed money of $500. Work has been completed on pre- and post-questionnaires to follow up with residents that participate in the project. The questionnaires will enable an analysis of the effectiveness of the program. There is also a Frequently Asked Questions document being prepared, with questions like “How do I adjust the motion detector's sensitivity?” A resident meeting will be scheduled to answer questions, fill out applications, schedule installation and see the actual hardware.

The Neighborhood Watch Subcommittee is giving a lot of thought to a communication system that would allow citizens to find a Neighborhood Watch Group near them while at the same time maintaining the privacy of the Block Captains and current neighborhood watch locations. Another goal is to use the CSSL Web site to more effectively link the Block Captains and Neighborhood Watch groups with the San Leandro Police Department to provide quick and useful crime prevention information, announcements and updates. Meetings with the San Leandro Police Department are taking place to work on these issues.

Finally, mark your calendars for Thursday, October 16 at 7 p.m. for a citywide Crime Prevention meeting at the Main Library. One of our goals is enhanced communication between Neighborhood Watch groups, the police and the community. We want to hear about the Block Parties held this year at National Night Out and inspire residents to plan for next year. We will have crime prevention tips from the San Leandro Police. Visit our Web site at http://www.safersanleandro.org for meeting dates and the latest information. Contact us at info@,chair@,vchair@, treasurer@, secretary@ or neighborhoodwatch@safersanleandro.org.

On July 8, Citizens For A Safer San Leandro (CSSL) held a Crime Prevention Meeting that drew a crowd of over 60 Neighborhood Watch Captains, homeowners’ association presidents, and concerned community members. Police Chief Dale Attarian, Sgt. Joey Delgado, Officers Tim DeGrano and Kerri Kovach shared the City’s plans for crime prevention and the value of Neighborhood Watch. The highlight came in the second half of the meeting, in which ideas were shared from current Block Captains, and novices and potential new Neighborhood Watch members could learn from each other.

Anyone living in San Leandro can participate in a Neighborhood Watch. Groups (usually 6-12) are usually a few residents within the same street or area who meet to address crime and safety issues in their neighborhood. Don’t be afraid to start small, but share the responsibilities, say mentors to the program. One member acts as the Block Captain to work with the San Leandro Police Department. Any resident who's in doubt about something they see shouldn't hesitate to report suspicious activity to Police Dispatch at 577-2740.

Mentor Neighborhood Watch Captains are willing to help you start a group. You can visit www.safersanleandro.org to download a “Neighborhood Watch Group Starter Kit,” sam­ple flyers, and handouts. You can also contact Officer Tim DeGrano at the San Leandro Police Department, at 577­3248, or Vince Rosato, CSSL Neighborhood Watch Block Captain Coordinator at. Citizens for a Safer San Leandro will be holding another city­wide Crime Prevention Meeting on Thursday, October 16 at 7 p.m. at the Main Library.

With the many reports in the newspapers and on the e-mail list groups about some of the serious crimes in our neighborhoods and downtown, some residents are getting very concerned and wonder if there is anything that can be done to take back our communities and keep them safe.

If you, too, feel this is a concern, will you support Citizens for a Safer San Leandro?This is a local, grassroots community e?ort to “tip” the direction we seem to be heading.

The first goal is to have a meeting in January and invite Senator Corbett, a representative from the police department with 2007 crime statistics, representatives from downtown businesses and neighborhood businesses and brainstorm about ideas/suggestions for improved safety. After gathering a list of ideas, we can research to see how effective these ideas have been for other communities. We can research to see if these ideas have been tried in our City. If not, why not? We can take these ideas to our City Council and Mayor.

An idea that has already surfaced is better lighting for the downtown shopping plaza. Another idea is slowing traffic on some of the cross streets like Haas, Oakes, and Dutton.

Here is what you can do. Contact Connie Stephens at 638-2207 or e-mail Connie at wstephens@aol.com with your ideas or suggestions. If you know of things that have worked for other communities, send those ideas to Connie, along with your name and address, telephone or e-mail. Try to attend the meeting in January with your ideas.