Sunday Safety Update: 10/18/2015 to 10/24/2015

Disclaimer: Please note these maps are meant to show which direction crime is trending, areas to keep an extra eye on and places to remain vigilant in order for Central Long Beach residents to remain safe. That said, previous trends don't guarantee future trends will repeat in the same direction and patterns. Also, an absence of crime in one area, does not guarantee an absence in that same area later on. as well.  

We are beginning a series of community walks through the MacArthur Park Neighborhood. They will take place after 10pm and focus on those areas that currently need the most attention. There will be at least three community walks a week, two during the weekdays and one on the weekend.Tonight's walk saw reduced loitering in the alley behind Anaheim, but the plaza at Walnut and Anaheim is still an issue.

First, neighborhood crime has tapered down, but not far enough. The pattern this week was varied and unpredictable. It does seem robberies, thefts and property crime are trending down the streets of Gaviota and Walbut. Please be extra careful in this area, especially since the police saw fit to put cameras at 14th and Gaviota; clearly something is happening in that area. 

Moreover, police are also investigating a non-injury shooting that happened on Long Beach’s Eastside neighborhood Wednesday night.

Officers were dispatched to Walnut Avenue and Anaheim Street at about 9:45PM on Wednesday, October 21 in regards to a shots heard call, Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) spokeswoman Marlene Arrona said. Read the full story

Also notice assaults are trending down Cherry. Be especially careful on Cherry after 8pm and in both mentioned areas around 5am.

There is crime cluster south east of the MacArthur Park Neighborhood. Everything happening there is not trending in any particular direction, so be very cautious around Junipero and Anaheim where it leads into our neighborhood. A lot of the marks on the board above took place on a Sunday, especially the ones close to Rotary Centenial Park, so keep an extra eye open on Sundays.

Finally there were two other shootings out of our neighborhood. One was at MLK and 20th. The other was a fatal shooting at 20th and Magnolia. 

A man was shot to death early Monday morning in the 2000 block of Magnolia Avenue, authorities said.

Long Beach police said the victim, identified as 25-year-old William Tyshoen Davis, was wounded in the upper body.

Long Beach Fire Department paramedics responded and took Davis, who was in critical condition, to a local hospital where he later died, police said in a press release.Read the full story

MacArthur Park will be supporting the community of Wrigley in every manner possible. We will be reporting all tagging and dumped items a long 20th Street in response in an extra Go Long Beach run this weekend.

Community Meetings
  
There will be a community meeting for District Six on Tuesday October 27th at Mark Twain Neighborhood Library. 6pm. The topic will center on public safety including gang activity.

Robert Smith and his staff will host the West Division Leadership Forum Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at 6:00pm. The new location will be 1129 Alamitos, at the Grant AME Church There will be a presentation on human trafficking and a Code Enforcement overview. 

Holiday Safety Meeting - Mark Twain Library 10/20/2015: 5pm

Long Beach residents are invited to the MacArthur Park/Whittier School Neighborhood monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library located at 1401 E. Anaheim St. in the Community Room.  Free parking is available at the library parking lot.

There Was AOC7 Clean Up This Weekend on 11th Street

This Saturday we didn't clean up MacArthur Park so we could help the AOC7 in their monthly neighborhood clean up. That clean up got 11th, Cerritos, Licoln Elementary, Norman Court and probably two additional tons of trash. Thanks to the AOC7 and all the neighbors who came out to support the clean up. It was a great event that probably took at least three dumpsters worth of trash off the street. 

I still intend to get Ester, Werner and the remainder of Orange this week. Next Saturday, there will also be a clean up on Sherman and 16th street at 8am..

Sunday Safety Update: 10/11/2015 - 10/17/2015

Disclaimer: Please note these maps are meant to show which direction crime is trending, areas to keep an extra eye on and places to remain vigilant in order for Central Long Beach residents to remain safe. That said, previous trends don't guarantee future trends will repeat in the same direction and patterns. Also, an absence of crime in one area, does not guarantee an absence in that same area later on. as well.  

First, crime is not only up, but it is up significantly for the MacArthur Park Neighborhood. The line up Cherry is partially the result of two shooting that happened in our neighborhood and appear to be gang related. 

Two men were wounded in a shooting at about 5:35 a.m. Wednesday that may have been gang-related, police said.

The unidentified men were sent to a hospital for treatment of wounds described by police as not life-threatening. 

“The preliminary investigation indicated the victims were walking down the street when they were approached by three suspects and shot,” according to a statement from police spokeswoman Nancy Pratt.- Full Story.

The shootings took place around 15th and Cherry. There will be an intense graffiti/ dumped item/ a neighborhood patrol for the next two weeks. There was a lot of graffiti that popped up just prior to this and that seems to be a reliable indication some type of violence is about to occur.

Also notice the patterns of car thefts just outside our neighborhood. It is clearly heading north west. Please keep all cars locked in that area. Reread preventing car theft, especially if you live in that area.

There is renewed loitering in the plaza at Walnut and Anaheim. It had died down, but seems to have picked up. Be very careful in the area because drug activity appears to be happening there as well.

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Use the Go Long Beach App to remove graffiti, even if you don't live where you see it

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Also notice along Alamitos there is a trend north east towards 17th street. Because a lot is happening around 17th street, really remain vigilant and keep your eyes out for your neighbors on that street.

As we approach the holiday season, here are some safety tips.

1.  Ship items to a location where they will be personally received, and/or ask a trusted neighbor to collect and hold the item rather than leaving it in a common area.
2.  Request carriers to ship items to their local store or distribution center to be held for pick up.
3. Advise your local post office when you will be out of town so they can hold your deliveries until your return.
4. Track the progress of your anticipated delivery and if you don’t receive it as expected, contact the issuing company, and when possible request proof of delivery.
5. Remove valuables and holiday packages from your vehicle, and don’t use it as a storage area - More tips from the LAPD

Upcoming Safety Meetings: 

Long Beach residents are invited to the MacArthur Park/Whittier School Neighborhood monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library located at 1401 E. Anaheim St. in the Community Room.  Free parking is available at the library parking lot.  - UPDATED

There will be a community meeting for District Six on Tuesday October 27th at Mark Twain Neighborhood Library!  6pm. I am not sure what the topic will be, last time it was starting a community watch.

Join Commander Robert Smith and his staff for this informative meeting on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at 6:00pm. The new location will be 1129 Alamitos, at the Grant AME Church  We will be having a presentation on Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation; Also a Code Enforcement overview. 

Dee Andrews to Host Town Hall on Public Safety 10/27/2015

Councilman Dee Andrews will host a 6^th District Town Hall meeting, at 6:00 pm, on Tuesday, October 27^th, at Mark Twain Library, 1401 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA.

The topic of the Town Hall meeting will focus on public safety. The guest speakers will include Commander Robert Smith, Long Beach Police Department, West Division and Homeless Services. The commander will be reporting crime updates and giving tips on crime prevention.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information call (562) 570-6816.

Sunday Safety Update: 10/04/2015 to 10/202015

That map for this week in the MacArthur Park Neighborhood looks worse than it is. The biggest issue is the tagging has picked up. Keep an eye on 14th and Walnut, the south end of Rose and Anaheim and the north end of PCH and Gardenia. Notice that car thefts are trending towards Junipero and Anaheim. However, know that this is a much weaker pattern than last week. They seem to be trending that way, but if you look at a larger picture you can argue there is no real pattern.

You may still want to keep your cars locked up around 15th street and the east end of the neighborhood, near Junipero and Rotary Centennial Park. Do the same on Anaheim Street, Peterson and around MacArthur Park itself.

The multiple incident at the south end of the park was a fight. Since it was four fights on the same day at the same time, I assume they all refer to different people in the same fight. Near Junipero and 17th, the multiple incidents are two auto burglaries. Just south of that area, where the car thefts are trending towards us, we submitted about 15 Go Long Beach Requests for tagging and dumping to draw attention to the area as part of a Neighborhood Expansion effort. We will be getting the West Side of the 710 in response to the most recent shootings.

Lastly, notice the theft and assault on Alamitos. Stay safe in that area, especially as the construction continues. Also a large dumping area on Warner south of 14th has moved to Werner. This is actually one of the largest collections of dumped items I have ever seen.

District Six rep Dee Andrews has suggested Long Beach adopt the Dog Walker's program to the city's existing community watch program. 

The Long Beach City Council on Tuesday will hear a proposal from Councilman Dee Andrew to implement a Dog Walker Watch program as part of the city’s existing Community Watch Program. 

The idea, according to Andrew’s office, is that while residents are out walking their dogs, they can also be trained to watch for suspicious activity that police have called on citizens to report. With more than 63,000 dog-owning households in Long Beach, that is a lot of eyes and ears, officials say. - Full Story.

I have a cat, but I will still be watching anyway.

 

Thanks to Paulette, AOC7, and the Kids Who Voluntered at Yesterday's Clean Up

There was a very successful clean up at the east end of the MacArthur Park Neighborhood yesterday that got Stanton Pl, 15th, Juniper and 17th. Thanks to Paulette who organized the clean up and provided the prizes. Also thanks to everyone, including the AOC7 members and the neighborhood kids who came out and volunteered. A few residents were so appreciative, one signed up to host the dumpster on the 24th. By the way, there will be another clean up in about the same area on the 24th. We'll probably go west and try to get Sherman that week.

We also got the remainder of 17th Street this morning from

Walnut to Orange. In places, 17th is a lot cleaner than it has been in the past. In places, we still have a lot of work left to do. In all, between the two weeks we tackled 17th Street it took four 32 gallon bags.

It gets progressively worse as you approach Orange. A lot like Walnut south of 14th, this is where several large apartment complexes begin to collect. We're going to be working on a more effective way of keeping these areas clean. Next week, on Sunday, we will get Ester Street and the remainder of Orange that we did not get the last time around. 

Next Saturday we will be assisting the AOC7 on their neighborhood clean up; I welcome all of MacArthur Park to join in.
 

September to Agust: MacArthur Park Crime Comparrison

September Stats (MacArthur Park Neighborhood Only):

1. Theft from Vehicles (7 Total): Down 12%. Equally scattered.Still a disturbing trend on the east end of Old Zaferia Way outside the neighborhood.
2. Theft (7 total): No real pattern. Up 14%. Caution on Anaheim east of Cherry. PCH by Chittick field and Alamitos and PCH.
3. Theft of Vehicles (7 Total):be careful PCH from Gardenia to Orange and anywhere along Anaheim. Up 175%.
4. Assaults (5 Total): Down 17%. Most cluster 14th Street Gundry to Gaviota.
5. Vehicle Recovery (4 Total): 100% increase/  Look for missing cars around MacArthur Park/ 15th or Gardenia.
   
6. Quality of Life (3 Total): 300% increase, SW end of the neighborhood close to MacArthur Park; all ecstasy possession.
7. Robbery (2 total): Down 33%. Caution at MacArthur Park close to Anaheim.
8. Breaking & Entering (1 Total): 100% increase. Quite a few incidents just south of us along 11th in AOC7 and Cambodia Town East.
9. Property Crime (0 Total): 100% improvement.Tagging is way down in September.
10. Homicide (0 Total):No change; no nearby shootings.
11. Sexual Offense, Fire, Emergency, Proactive Policing Other (0 Total): No Change

 August Stats (MacArthur Park Neighborhood Only):

1. Property Crime (9 Total): All west of Gardenia. Otherwise, no pattern/ up 30%.
2. Theft from Vehicles (8 Total): No obvious pattern. On other side of Old Zaferia Way this more than doubles. Down about 30%.
3. Assaults (6 Total): No pattern; even spread. Up 16%.
4. Theft (6 total): No real pattern. Up 33%.
5. Theft of Vehicles (4 Total): No obvious pattern. On other side of Old Zaferia Way this more than doubles. Down 42%.
6. Robbery (3 total): Be careful in the alley between Walnut and Gaviota. Down 25%.
7. Vehicle Recovery (2 Total): Anaheim and Walnut/ Stanton and 15th. Not recorded last month, but up 50%. 
8. Quality of Life (1 Total): Meth/ PCP at Cherry and PCH. Down 80%.
9. Breaking & Entering (0 Total): 100% improvement
10. Homicide (0 Total):Down 100%. There was an attempted shooting at Gaviota and 14th. Drive by/ suspected as gang related.
11. Sexual Offense, Fire, Emergency, Proactive Policing Other (0 Total): No Change

Summary: In September there were 36 total incidents; a modest 8 percent decrease in crime. Theft/ car theft and drug related crimes are all up. Vehicle theft and stolen car recovery was up significantly. While only property crime, theft, assaults and robbery are down. most other increases in crime were minor. vandalism was way down averaging the other modest crime increases out. 

Sunday Safety Update: 09/27/2015 to 10/03/2015

This week's map shows that inside the MacArthur Park Neighborhood we saw a nice improvements this week. There were only three reported incidents inside our borders and two them were a stolen care being found. One was an assault on the north end of MacArthur Park itself. There was a build up of tagging along Anaheim trending West. It will all be dealt with within the next two days. Because there is another clean up scheduled for the east end of our neighborhood on Saturday, we will also do an extensive Go Long Beach run for all of the MacArthur Park Neighborhood before that clean up begins.

Now, on the other side of Old Zaferia Way there is a serious build up of auto thefts that are clearly trending out way. This is a very clear pattern, and there have been almost no car thefts on the west end of Old Zaferia Way for almost three weeks. Please keep cars locked and safe anywhere near Orizaba Park and Rotary Centennial Park. In the mean time, reread How to Keep Your Car Safe, as the constant reminders seem to helping bring down overall car thefts. 

In what is defined as Cambodia Town East on Next Door there is a serious build up. In order to help quash it, I am declaring Neighborhood Expansion and temporarily placing Cambodia Town East within our borders for the next two weeks. Because of this, a Go Long Beach Run will be done in the area to get all tagging and dumped items out of the area. 

That kind of attention to detail, does seem to help settle things down quickly. 

There were shootings on 09/29/2015 and 10/06/2015 outside our neighborhoods.  Here are the details

2600 Delta Street. A barrage of bullets and people scrambling for cover is how witnesses described a Long Beach shooting that they say left two innocent bystanders critically injured. Witnesses said they heard as many as twenty shots just as McCraw, riding his bike, stopped to chat with a friend on this street corner. Investigators are not releasing many details, but gang detectives are on the case. Two men (adults) were shot tonight (Sept. 29) in West Long Beach in the 2600 block of Delta Ave. (just north of Willow St. between the 710 freeway and Santa Fe. Ave., 7th Council district.)  More detail

1900 Caspian Ave: A man was hospitalized in critical condition today after a Long Beach shooting that may have been gang-related, police said. The shooting occurred in the 1900 block of Caspian Avenue around 9:45 p.m. Monday, said Long Beach police Lt. Dave Faris. The victim was shot once in the lower torso.

Be safe West Long Beach. 

We may do an additional Go Long Beach Run in that area, providing we have the time. If you haven't already joined Next Door to connect with your neighbors, please consider it. it's a great way to use social media to bring your neighborhood together for good.

Neighborhood Clean Up 10/10/2015: 9pm

This Saturday, another MacArthur Park Neighborhood resident is hosting a clean up. This one is taking place in the eastern end of the neighborhood as defined by Next Door. A dumpster will be available and high school service hours are available for this one. See the flyer for more details.