Crime Statistics and Neighborhood Event Updates
March 2020
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Neighborhood-specific crime reports are produced monthly by the Oklahoma City Police Department. Neighborhood Alliance would like to share the most recent crime data as well as useful information about crime prevention in your neighborhood and in our City.
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- Neighborhood Alliance Update by Executive Director, Georgie Rasco
- Crime Watch Patrol Training
- Coronavirus: Tips to Keep Your Neighborhood Healthy
- Social Distancing: What Does it Mean?
- Georgie's Neighborhood Tips!
- Q&A: Census OKC Begins and Civic Life Update
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- Community Partners Gather to Give Youth in Crisis a Safe Place for Help
- Sprinkler Spruce-Up
- OKC Cinco de Mayo Festival Moving to Scissortail Park
- Community Corner: Mayflower Congregational UCC Offers Grocery Delivery Assistance to Vulnerable OKCitizens
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Neighborhood Alliance Update
By Executive Director, Georgie Rasco
Dear OKC Neighbors,
Neighborhood Alliance is following our Mayor’s State of Emergency for the City of OKC guidelines, and therefore we are canceling all of our workshops and events from now until the middle of April, maybe longer if necessary. We will keep you apprised as to the safe opening date of our programming.
Our staff will be
WORKING
from home during this time and we are still
WORKING
to assist you and answer any neighborhood questions you might have. You will be able to reach each of us via email at the email addresses listed below. We are also working on other ways to keep you informed and educated during this time of social-distancing by using virtual classes. Stay tuned for information in the days to come.
During this time please remember to be a good neighbor to those in your neighborhood who may need a little extra help.
- Check on the elderly, disabled or infirmed by phone.
- If you do bring someone supplies drop them at the door and call them to let them know they are there. Do not go into their home for their safety and yours.
- Use drive up windows as much as possible for your medications, food pick up, etc.
- Encourage house bound neighbors who are getting stir-crazy to go to their back yard (if lucky enough to have one) and breathe in the fresh air, walk around a bit or play with their pets.
- Share online resources with other neighbors by teaching them the joy of Ted Talks, Pod Casts, YouTube, Audio Books. Don’t assume everyone knows how to access all of these jewels. Tell them you can walk them through how to access over the phone.
- Not a good time to share home-made food with each other, but you can have commercially made food delivered to a neighbor’s home.
- Write funny and heartwarming stories on your Neighborhood Facebook or Nextdoor site. Encourage others to do the same.
- Be a role model by following the basic rules set forth by the CDC and our Mayor and do not host any meetings unless they are absolutely necessary. Try to do your neighborhood business by phone or Skype if possible.
We may not have balconies, like the country of Italy, to sing to each other for comfort and neighborliness, and luckily we are nowhere as serious as they are. But this is a time to comfort each other and realize we are all struggling in the same struggle, so let’s do it with kindness.
Email us and let us know how you are doing!! Talk to us about your Neighborhood issues.
We Are in This With You,
Georgie, Ana, Sarah, Amanda, Stacey, and Ashley (from her maternity leave!!)
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Crime Watch Patrol Training
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Neighborhood Watch Patrol is about neighbors volunteering to become trained observers and reporters in their neighborhood for the local police. Join the OKC Police Department and Neighborhood Alliance to learn more about Crime Watch and Crime Watch Patrol for your neighborhood.
The Crime Patrol program is a committee of your Neighborhood Association.
When: Tuesday, April 28th, from 6:15 PM to 7:15 PM
Where: OCPD Southwest Division
5501 S. Portland Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
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Tips to Keep Your Neighborhood Healthy
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Neighbors,
In partnership with our friends at Nextdoor, we are working together to help keep communities healthy.
While the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that the immediate risk to the general public for contracting the coronavirus (COVID-19) remains low, both organizations suggest that now is the time for communities to start preparing in case this changes.
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Georgie's Neighborhood Tips!
It’s tough out there for a neighborhood leader! Each month I will share a few “neighborhood hacks” that might make things easier.
Trick #1) Try to always go by the “two person rule.” Unless you can get 2 people (outside of Board members) to volunteer to head up a committee or project then maybe it’s not the right time for that activity. Let your members know that the board is not there to do EVERYTHING.
Trick #2) Secretaries, remember, minutes are not novels. They probably shouldn’t even be longer than a page long. You only record the DECISIONS made at the meetings then who motioned and who seconded each vote. No one needs a record of the entire conversation.
More next month. If you have a “hack” to add or a question for me to answer in the newsletter for all neighborhoods send it to me at
georgie@nacok.org
Keep up the great work! You are the backbone of this great City!!!
Georgie
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by WILLIAM CRUM
Published: Mon, March 9, 2020 5:00 AM
The Oklahoman
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Q&A: Census OKC begins
The 2020 U.S. Census begins contacting Oklahoma City residents this week. Here's what to know:
What is the census?
The 2020 Census is a count of every person in the United States and its territories regardless of their citizenship, nationality or living situation.
What does the government want to know?
For each person at each address, the form asks for information including name, sex, age, date of birth, relationship, Hispanic origin and race.
I am afraid for my family's security and the security of our personal information. Is the data I provide confidential?
Yes. By law, census responses are confidential and private. The Census Bureau cannot release any identifiable information about individuals, households, or businesses, even to law enforcement. The bureau can use responses only to produce statistics.
How can I respond to the census?
Online, by phone or by mail.
Why should I respond?
Oklahoma had the second-lowest participation rate in the country in the 2010 Census. An undercount of just 2% would cost the state an estimated $1.8 billion in federal funding over a decade. Census results help direct federal funding for programs including:
• School breakfast and lunch, and SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
• Medicare Part B and Medicaid.
• Head Start, college grants.
• Affordable housing.
• Highways and transit.
How often does the U.S. conduct the census?
Once every 10 years.
How can I learn more?
Go to okc.gov or search npr.org for "census" or go to census.gov.
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OKC Civic Life for Monday, March 9, 2020
They said it
"$125,000 spent against you in the last week is hard to overcome."
— Former Ward 4 Councilman Pete White, commenting on the "dark money" group and secret donors who unleashed a media blitz denouncing the citizens' initiative for parks on last week's ballot. The measure lost, 53% to 47%, a sharp turnaround from the 72% of voters who approved MAPS 4 three months ago. Advocates collected nearly 8,000 signatures to qualify the initiative for the ballot. "It's a sad situation," said White, who led the effort pass the measure. "Oklahoma City missed a big opportunity." Oklahoma City's park system ranks 97th among the 100 largest U.S. cities (Trust for Public Lands, 2019 ParkScore). By comparison, Minneapolis, Minnesota, is third and Portland, Oregon, is fifth.
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Community Partners Gather to Give Youth in Crisis a Safe Place for Help
Published: Mar 9, 2020 / 04:30 PM CDT
KFOR.COM
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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - "We provide a safe place for all youth who are experiencing any kind of distress or crisis," Norman Markland, Safe Place Coordinator at Pivot, said.
Black and yellow signs will be at all Oklahoma City libraries, fire departments and OnCue stores around the metro.
The goal to make those under 18 aware they can find safe refuge here when they need help fast.
“They can go into any OnCue location and that OnCue staff will be trained to literally provide a safe place. What it looks like is a youth will be escorted to a back room to get food and comfort," Markland said.
"Just the fact our fire stations are strategically located throughout the city and dispersed through this big city of ours, it makes it a good place to utilize of this nature," Public Information Officer for Oklahoma City Fire Department Benny Fulkerson said.
Youth who may experience physical, sexual or emotional abuse at home.
Safe Place started in the early 80s and has served around 12,000 youth a year nationwide. It hit a lag for a while but is now ramping back up with the nonprofit organization Pivot as the lead.
Once the youth gets connected with a Pivot representative, they can assess short term or long term care for that youth whether it's a living situation or just basic necessities.
"Also providing youth support as they transition through high school with things like ID cards, food, clothing," Markland said.
Community members providing a safe place to those who might feel helpless.
SISU Youth Services is also a designated “safe place” in northwest Oklahoma City.
If you are a youth and need immediate help text the word "safe" to 4HELP (44357).
You can find more information on National Safe Place
here.
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Before you ramp up watering this spring, let us walk you through a "sprinkler spruce-up" to ensure your system is operating efficiently. In this workshop you’ll learn how to inspect, connect, direct, and select—to help promote healthy landscapes and reduce water waste.
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OKC Cinco de Mayo Festival Moving to Scissortail Park
Written by: Brandy McDonnell
Published: Fri, February 28, 2020 5:46 PM
The Oklahoman
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As one of Oklahoma’s largest Cinco de Mayo festivals continues to grow in size, organizers have announced plans to move the celebration to Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7.
The event is expected to draw approximately 20,000 people celebrating Hispanic heritage and culture to the downtown Oklahoma City park, according to a news release.
The free, family-friendly event will take place from 1 to 10:30 p.m. May 3. Festivities will include live music from local and international touring artists, folkloric dancing, activities for children, a parade of horses and the crowning of Miss Cinco de Mayo.
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Community Corner: Mayflower Congregational UCC Offers Grocery Delivery Assistance to Vulnerable OKCitizens
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Community Quote for March
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