ECA/HACA Work Group Seeks Practical Approaches to Eastport Crime​​

On Monday Dec 4, ECA released the latest draft of a plan by a work group from ECA and the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA) that spells out four crime prevention goals and several underlying actions. At the Dec 5 ECA meeting, Senator Sarah Elfreth provided guidance on state grant funding that may be available for crime prevention efforts in Eastport. More information will be shared soon, including a list of specific grants that could be applied to crime prevention.

Living Safely Together ─ A Community Initiative to Combat Crime in Eastport

In response to increased reports of shootings and crime in the greater Eastport community, the Eastport Civic Association (ECA) and Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA) formed a work group to seek solutions for the City of Annapolis to implement.   
 
ECA has 700 members and HACA has 357 families Eastport. Since mid-October 2023, the two groups have collaborated and have consulted with key City officials to identify workable, near-term actions to combat crime in Eastport.  

The work group’s “Living Safely Together” initiative identified four goals, as well as actions to help achieve these goals.
 
Cameras
Goal: Get surveillance cameras in place and operational as soon as possible in the Eastport area.
Actions:
1.    Understand the Annapolis Police Department’s current plan to install updated surveillance cameras and shot location software.
2.    Meet with the City’s Management Information Technology department head and others if necessary.
3.    Define obstacles to acquiring, installing, and monitoring the equipment/technology.
4.    Clarify details such as, who in City government is in charge? What is the scope of the project? What is delaying completion? What sources of funding are needed?   
5.    Publicize status and educate the community.
6.    Communicate with City alderpersons and staff about this issue so they make completing the project a priority.

Violence Interruption Program
Goal: Ensure that the County-sponsored Violence Interruption Program (VIP) is implemented at a specific location in the Eastport Terrace-Harbor House community. In VIP programs, trusted “street outreach” workers seek to prevent violence through coaching, mediation, conflict resolution, and long-term follow-up in troubled neighborhoods.     
Actions:

7.    Seek updates on the status and timeline for implementing the VIP program.      
8.    Help the City get the VIP program in place quickly. Meet with County and City staff and the grantee organization to help assure that all parties’ goals and implementation plans are understood and met.
9.    Publicize the purpose and progress of the VIP program in the Eastport community.
10.    Communicate with County and City staff and alderpersons about the project to ensure that the program’s success is a priority.

Public safety funding
Goal: See that State funds available for public safety initiatives are acquired and applied to high-impact projects to stem crime in Eastport.
Actions:

11.    Understand County/State/Federal funding options for public safety and how this funding can be obtained.   
12.    Assess where seeking grant money for public safety falls on the City’s list of priorities; understand who in the City has the responsibility to seek grant money for public safety.    
13.    If obstacles exist to writing grants for public safety funding, work with City/State/Federal staff and legislators to understand and help overcome these obstacles so Annapolis can take advantage of available public safety funding.   
14.    Publicize and educate the community. Identify strategies that Annapolis citizens can use to encourage leaders and politicians to prioritize grant writing and improve the process for obtaining funds.

Neighborhood support
Goal: With the backing of a citizen coalition in Wards 6 and 8, exert political influence to ensure safety goals are met.    
Actions:
15.    Identify and contact citizen/neighbor organizations in Wards 6 and 8, such as Eastport Terrace/Harbour House Tenant Council, Eastport Business Association, church leadership, Eastport Shopping Center (owner and stores), and neighborhood/condominium associations.   
16.    Ask the groups to join a coalition to advocate for key safety initiatives in Eastport.
17.    Form a steering committee for the coalition.

Summary
The Living Safely Together initiative wants practical, evidence-based solutions in place to prevent shootings and crime in Eastport. We seek to understand details about key City and County crime reduction projects, overcome obstacles to implementation, educate the community about key issues, and spur projects to avoid delays and red tape.