the results are in: safety walk survey says ...

Thanks to all of you who filled out the safety walk survey posted some weeks back, we've got some great responses.  Here are the results.

• The safety walks should occur twice a month.
• Safety walks should take approximately one hour.

When asked what the safety walks should look out for, here are the responses:

any issue or problem that a resident has - i.e. dumping in an alley, unsecured vacant residences, broken street lights, graffiti, construction projects, etc.  the walks should also focus on meeting new neighbors

I love that it's a way for me to meet neighbors... maybe once in a while we could end at someone's house! That would be amaaaaaazing :)

drug activity, vagrants in abandoned buildings

Signs of criminal activity, general property neglect and city services needed

drug dealers, abandoned and dumpy property, gang tags, trash and illegal dumping, assessment of streets (speed humps), examples of what works - trees, gardens, parks and community gathering spots (have members of Casey Trees participate).

start and end at local businesses - windows cafe, big bear, etc - so people can socialize with each other, and patronize local shops.

Cleanliness of the neighborhood; visit local businesses where most criminals hang out and show that the community is united and not putting up with crime.

signs of criminal activity and abandoned or run down property

Pointing out to MPD the trouble spots that we as residents know and see every day.

Canvassing a different area each time such that every street and ally is eventually covered. If any area has particular issues, give that area special attention by hitting it over and over at the beginning or end of the walk if possible.

1. Focus on problems not things - signs of criminal activity; problem areas where drugs or noise are issues
2. Making a positive presence
3. A chance to meet our officers and point out areas of concern

dog poop, criminal activity, trash dumping, graffiti, street damage (potholes, broken curbs, missing or damaged or graffitted signs, loose tv or phone wires), bicyclists who chain their bikes to our trees damaging them when they could tie them to fence or lamppost), stores without trash bins regularly emptied, other signs of neighborhood nitwittery

Respondents were also asked to identify where the safety walks should go.

Different parts of the neighborhood depending in where they last went.

Different parts of the neighborhood based on who comes out to walk.

Between 2nd NW & Lincoln Ave, north of florida and south of W.

All along 1st St NW from Rhode Island up through Bryant and down 2nd and Flagler.

please, please, please, please include kelly miller housing project. i know this isn't in bloomingdale, per se, but it affects bloomingdale - because a 100% lowest housing model doesn't work. this lies between 2nd and 4th, and V and W. also, please include 2nd street - between 2nd and flagler, and v street - between 2nd and flagler.

Alleys, knock on people's door whose house are looking a mess and ask them if they can do something about it, the Park off U St and V St.

Definitely need to walk the alleys.

1. Around the current problem areas; ask participants (although they usually request)
2. alleys
3. where teens or people are "hanging out"
4. Through Crispus Attucks Park
5. By our Bloomingdale businesses

First and U, Alley between unit Bryant and Adams, Alley between unit [block of] Adams and W, 2nd and W

The most popular days for safety walks to occur, in descending order, are Saturday (17), Sunday and Monday (14), Friday (12), Tuesday (11), then Wednesday and Thursday (10).  On the weekends, most respondents selected Other as their time choice, so maybe a safety walk and brunch is in order?

Last but not least, suggestions were solicited as to how the safety walks could improve.

every so often, have an after-walk reception at a local business to 1) introduce neighbors to local proprietors and 2) hopefully encourage residents to shop in Bloomingdale more often

I picked the latest time available, and that works best for us with a child under 1 year old, but I would encourage for those who are inclined to try and make these as reasonably late as possible. For example, it's still light out in the summer at 8pm. Might help to have a 9 to 10pm walk during those months?

Also, I think it should rotate days each time out. That should help the participation level as well as keep the nefarious elements off guard as to when to expect to see the safety walkers.

Of course, any time we are able to do so, we should have some form of law enforcement with us, whether they are on duty in an official capacity or off duty law enforcement neighbors/volunteers/retirees.

As it becomes appropriate, maybe engage one of the local businesses to host a "thank you" get together for the safety walkers with some food and beverage? Some sort of recognition anyways...

I'd also come up with some basic guidelines and goals so any overly enthusiastic safety walkers can be reigned in and any dissenters can be presented with a clear explanation as to why this is happening. It would also help with outreach to recruit safety walkers. Imagine walking up to a suspicious person (ie - those kids in front of the DC Mini Mart on 1st St.) with a flyer and saying, "Hi, I'm John, I'm a Bloomingdale resident who is committed to helping our neighborhood be as safe as possible. I hope you can join our safety walk team. What's your name? Do you live in the neighborhood?"

No, but I wanted to add that I live with six other people in an intentional community in Bloomingdale, and we'd love to participate in a neighborhood activity like this, especially one that focuses on smart safety procedures. Mondays are the one night we are all guaranteed to be available. Thank you for organizing!

have public officials participate (if they aren't already) - city council staffers, DCHA, parks and rec, streets dept, etc. THANKS!

Let people know they can offer to "host" the walk by having their house be the starting point. Whether we meet inside or gather outside, people who need neighborhood support can request that we congregate their first to be visible.

No suggestions for a day.

If there is a walk on a Friday - I would try to host another "wrap up session" [aka a happy hour]. We had a couple last summer, or summer before

A lot of the walks happen in the afternoon and during the week. I really appreciated the opportunity to attend one of these walks during my maternity leave, if only for the rare chance to meet the police on the beat in our hood. If you held one or two on the weekend, those of us who work may be able to attend every now and then. I think there is a real benefit for the weekday walks -- you will get more people who know the day in and day out problems on the street. Those of us who work during the day can be somewhat helpful though. And it is such an important thing to meet those people responsible for helping keep this neighborhood both safe and a place where common priorities are identified. Thanks!

carry a flyer to hand out to encourage others to partipate and let people know what we're doing and why

occasionally have a party to celebrate the work of the safety walkers

All these suggestions are great, and the folks who are busy organizing Bloomingdale's safety walks appreciate the feedback you've provided!