Norristown has many reputations, some great and some bad. But the great thing about bad reputations is that they can be reversed. It's never an overnight task, but with some work from the residents, it can happen. Norristown has one bad reputation as the 68th Most Dangerous Place To Live In America. For those keeping track, you would know we were at 59th last year so things are improving. There's always a silver lining in Norristown. Unfortunately, with the way things are going with recent shootings, we may stay steady for 2014.If you look at it, the shootings are duplicates which keeps our rate high. The reason why I say they are duplicate offenses is because of the string of violence after a shooting. The problem in Norristown is the need to retaliate after a shooting. Victims refuse to tell the correct story to police and try to "solve the problem" themselves. It's almost as if there is not enough protection by police to ensure anonymity when a victim comes forward to police. That's a problem. Residents need to break the silence and put an end to crime in Norristown. Police also need to work with residents and protect them from an incident happening again.
The next step we need to take is to come together as residents for a solution to this spike in crime. Here are some tools and tips that I feel can help Norristown become a safer town:
Nextdoor
As mentioned earlier in a blog, Nextdoor is an essential app to have to create a better connection in town. Since writing about it, 86 residents have joined and the site is becoming more active each day. The site is free to join, all you need is an email address. Also, you don't need the app to use the site, simply log on to Nextdoor.com and a neighbor can verify you. The site is also safe, no personal information will be used, you can change what you show to neighbors. You can post important tips and updates to share with your neighbors. A cool feature they have is a trick-or-treat map in time for Halloween. You can see which neighborhoods are giving out candy to avoid walking around town. Also, town police can collaborate with the site for free to send out safety messages to residents and keep them in the loop on things. This can be important if an incident occurs in your neighborhood and you don't find out until two days after when the local media picks up on the story.
Norristown Youth Development Coalition
NYDC will be kicking off again in November for teens ages 13-18 who wish to make a difference in the community. This is a great program to encourage youth to join, as this is the group of citizens that are most prone to these crimes. A teen involved in an after school program is a great way to keep them out of trouble. Teens have also been more likely to go to college and become leaders in the community when they are involved in activities outside of school. NYDC creates a program for them that they will be able to discuss the problems young adults face and how we can correct those issues. Montgomery County Opportunities Industrialization Center and The Norristown Project will combine forces in making this program a great success in Norristown. Together, we will encourage our youth to make a difference! NYDC will begin meeting on Thursdays from 5-7pm at the OIC building. Also, in the Spring, we will have special VIP guests exclusively to members in this free program!
Talk to Others
There is no secret that a community that works together, succeeds together. A couple months ago when I was going door-to-door to spread the word about my organization launching, I noticed one thing: people on the street seemed to change their mood when you spoke to them. Attending school in the south, it's common for a complete stranger on a porch to wave at passing cars. No joke, this is entertainment in Virginia! But one thing they can all say, they know who their neighbors are. How many times have you walked down Marshall Street and greeted a complete stranger? I bet the answer is none. Even if you say "hi" or "how's it going?", it is making a difference. You begin to recognize that face and the conversations begin to get longer and friendships are built.
Norristown residents constantly say "everyone knows everyone" but I don't totally believe that. The reason I say that is because we don't make an effort to talk to others. Honestly, if everyone knew everyone, crime wouldn't be this high with many of the criminals getting away with it. Crime is smaller in a community that knows everyone because, let's face it, someone will tell on you so you don't do it.
Also, Norristown is faced with a language barrier among English, French, and Spanish speaking residents. Take some time to learn a second language and practice conversations by speaking with a person of that language. A bilingual community has been proven to score higher on test scores and has resulted in lower unemployment rates. In today's economy, a person that knows more than one language is more likely to be hired than a person who only speaks English. It's never too late to learn a language! Since graduating high school 5 years ago, I am fluent in French, studied Spanish, and currently studying Japanese. I even change the language when watching movies to get a kick out of it! Try a new language, it's fun!
Work With Police
Over the years, the public trust for authority has struggled to satisfy residents. You read on the news about a foot chase and the officer couldn't keep up and loses the criminal. Then the case get's cold, a criminal is still on the street. Police then lose credibility because they are not doing their part to protect the streets. What needs to happen is an open discussion again between residents and police to get a better understanding of crime in town. Many of our officers did not grow up and Norristown and are relatively new to the neighborhood and may not know of all of Norristown's issues. Talking with police and working with them on creating safer streets is key to a community like Norristown. Also, word is that council will select a new police chief so things may be looking up in town! If this happens soon, make an effort to introduce yourself with the new Chief and ask how they will improve safety in Norristown.
Let's work together to make a safer community!
