Summary Notes - Neighborhoods Commitee - September 2007

Summary Notes
Neighborhoods Committee
September 17, 2007 – 7:00 pm – Silver Spring Regional Services Center

Attending: Alan Bowser; Anita Morrison, Long Branch Advisory Committee; Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board members Debbie Linn, Fran Rothstein and Jerry Yokoyama; Martha Waddy, New Hampshire Estates Civic Association; Charlotte Coffield, Lyttonsville Civic Association; Chris Richardson, Park Hills Civic Association; Rukiyat Gilbert, Southern Management; Joe Rodriquez, Long Branch Business League; Art Cobb, Marcie Stickle, Silver Spring Historical Society; Benjamin Stutz, Office of Montgomery County Councilmember Valerie Ervin; Rich Swanson, Woodside Forest Civic Association; Jennifer Deseo, Silver Spring Penguin; Ofc. Cory Brodzinski, MCPD; 3rd District Commander Don Johnson, MCPD; and Karen Ashby and Mel Tull, Silver Spring Regional Services Center.

Elnora Harvey Appreciation. With a moment of silence, the Committee remembered the life and service of Neighborhoods Committee member and former Chair of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, Elnora Harvey, who died on September 13, 2007.

Report on September Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board Meeting and July Neighborhoods Committee Meeting: Alan Bowser reviewed the actions taken by the Board at the September 10, 2007 meeting. The full Board—
• Approved Neighborhoods Committee letters 1/ asking the County Executive to direct the Montgomery County Chief of Police to contact his Prince George’s counterpart on the issue of police response in the Oakview Northwest Park Weed & Seed area; and 2/ asking the Chair of the Planning Board for a progress report on the Broad Acres Park.
• Approved a letter from the CED Committee expressing concern about a zoning text amendment that encourages better use of the public space amenity that accompanies optional method development. Committee didn’t think that the ZTA provided enough incentive for developers to contribute to a public space fund. Alan Bowser raised the issue that the ZTA also did not dedicate these public space funds to public space, and would authorize its use for any capital project, existing or proposed. Letter adopted with amendments.
• Received briefings about the Silver Spring Jazz Festival, and the Birchmere negotiations.
• Was introduced to Karen Ashby, new Assistant Director of the SS Regional Services Center.

At the July meeting of the Neighborhoods Committee:
• Introduction of New 3rd District Commander Don Johnson.
• Detailed briefing on the Northwest Park /Oakview Weed & Seed program by Victor Salazar, a former Neighborhoods Committee member, and site coordinator for the project.
• Community forum with the Presidents of the Northwest Park Apts. Avery Park Town Homes and Hampton Civic Associations.
• Committee approved two letters 1/ asking the CE to direct the Chief of Police to contact his PG counterpart on the issue of police response in the Oakview Northwest Park Weed & Seed area; 2. to the Chair of the Planning Board asking for a progress report on the Broad Acres Park.

Public Safety Update. 3rd District Commander Don Johnson, MCPD, briefed the Committee on recent public safety developments in Silver Spring. He reviewed Silver Spring crime statistics, noting a decrease in violent crime and an increase in daytime residential burglaries, vehicle thefts, and larcenies from vehicles. He said that GPS devices and catalytic converters were highly sought after by thieves. He recommended several measures for residents to protect their homes and vehicles.

Gangs and Gang Activity in Silver Spring and Montgomery County. Officer Cory Brodzinski, MCPD briefed the Committee on gangs and gang activity in Silver Spring and Montgomery County. Among the points he made during his PowerPoint presentation:
• There are gangs in Silver Spring, and the number is growing.
• The most notable gangs in Silver Spring are the 8800 Gang, the 3800 Gang, the Vacos Locos, and MS-13.
• Gang activity is especially prevalent around some parts of Castle Blvd, Piney Branch Road, New Hampshire Avenue, and Carroll Avenue.
• It is not a crime to be a member of a gang.
• Most gangs are neighborhoods based, and membership is particularly attractive in communities, with low income, rental housing, and large immigrant populations.
• One recent development is the increased in “mixed race” gangs.
• Gangs are particularly attractive to people 13 to early 20s in age, and there are an increasing number of girls joining local gangs.
• There is gang activity in Silver Spring’s elementary, middle and high schools.
• There have been gang related incidents at local libraries, where internet access at libraries has attracted gang members who use social networking sites like MySpace to publicize gang activity and to recruit gang members.
• Most gang violence is “gang on gang.”
• There are many reasons why people join gangs and remain in gangs.
• Some gangs are involved in drug dealing, gambling, and vehicle theft.
• All grafitti is not gang related.
• Montgomery County has a number of effective intervention programs, including the Blair Sports Academy.
• There is good cooperation between MCP, and state, federal and municipal law enforcement agencies.
• Residents are encouraged residents to contact the MCPD and the County’s Graffiti Reduction Abatement Program to report problems with community graffiti.
• The confidential gang tip line number is 240-773-GANG.

Committee members asked questions about the reasons for joining gangs, gang activity in local schools, gang intimidation of participants in the Blair Sports Academy, warning signs of gang activity, resources for MCPD anti-gang programs, and MCPD cooperation with Montgomery County Schools.

Long Branch Business League. Joe Rodriquez, Vice President of the Long Branch Business League and owner of the Americana Grocery, briefed the Committee on the League’s efforts to promote business and develop community in the Long Branch area. He said that the Business League was comprised of 40 paid members and had organized itself to address a range of community concerns in the Long Branch area, including public intoxication, graffiti, and day laborer activity. He noted that there was good cooperation with the Montgomery County Police and the County Government. He expressed his view that he would like to see more diversity in restaurant offerings and progress with Long Branch redevelopment, especially the “Super Block” proposal. Streetscape improvements were recommended for Piney Branch and Flower Avenues to reduce dark spots and havens for criminal activity.

Birchmere Update. Alan Bowser briefed the Committee about recent developments concerning the planned development of an entertainment venue on Colesville Road.

Members of the Committee expressed concern about the transparency of the business development process, the need for accountability of public investment funds, the size of the venue, the need for seating, and the need to provide an eclectic range of music that would appeal to all residents of Silver Spring and Montgomery County, and the importance of citizen input into local investment decisions.

The Committee approved a letter to the County Executive expressing its thoughts about the planned development of a Colesville Road entertainment venue.

Other Business. The Committee approved a Resolution recognizing the community service of the late Elnora Harvey, a member of the Committee and former Chair of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, who died on September 13, 2007.

The Committee approved a letter of appreciation for local Silver Spring farmer, Charles Koiner, in recognition of his 50th anniversary of participation in the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair, and his impressive showing of first prizes for his fruits and vegetables.

Alan Bowser asked the Committee to consider the possibility of changing the Committee’s regular meeting date from the 3rd Monday to a different day. The subject will be revisited at the October meeting.

Weed and Seed Program Update. Victor Salazar and Martha Waddy provided a summary of Northwest Park Oakview Weed & Seed Program developments. That summary is provided as an attachment to the Committee minutes.

Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm.

Next Meeting October 15, 2007



The Northwest Park Oakview Weed and Seed (NPOWS)
Program Update to the
Silver Spring Citizen’s Advisory Board
Neighborhood Committee
September 15, 2007

Summary provided by:

Ms. Martha Waddy
Member, Weed & Seed Steering Committee

Program Highlights:

A. Valerie Ervin, Councilmember, Montgomery County Council provided introductory and welcoming comments and presided over a Neighborhood Watch Graduation Ceremony.

B. Over 25 members of the community participated in Neighborhood Watch training over a three week period in July.

C. Staff members from Councilmembers Valerie Ervin, George Leventhal and Marc Elrich attended a community association meeting in July.

D. Celebrated “National Night Out” at Avery Park Apartments

E. On July 23rd and August 29th Weed & Seed Police Details made arrests related to Drugs, Weapons, and Robberies .

F. Neighborworks America, a national provider of training programs to Asset Managers and Community Workers, selected Northwest Park Apartments as a location to hold a panel discussion on what works in revitalizing a community. Members of the Weed & Seed Weed Committee, apartment managers and members of the community participated in the 4 hour discussion.

G. The Department of Justice conducted a program site-visit and determined our implementation of the Weed & Seed Strategy met Department of Justice program requirements. Additionally, the NPOWS is qualified for an additional year of federal funding to 2010.

H. Weed & Seed partners developed an Outreach Strategy for Broad Acres Elementary School Administrators.

For additional information about the contents above contact:
Victor Salazar, Site Coordinator, Weed & Seed
(301) 565-5847l