The Vallejo City Council on Tuesday directed city staff to research measures to deter violent crime in the summer including purchasing security towers, developing a block party program, re-establishing a safety-oriented school program and subsidizing park programs for youth.
Staffers were asked to present proposed budget amendments funding the measures at the council’s regular meeting July 8. Also, the council directed staff to re-establish the Safe Start to School Programs at Lincoln Elementary, Hogan Middle School, St. Vincent Preschool through Eighth Grade and Pennycook Elementary School after school starts.
Emphasizing the importance of swift action, Council Member Tonia Lediju said, “We are in a state of emergency, and since we are in a state of emergency, I’m quite sure we can do something about procurement in a much faster way.”
The city declared a state of emergency two years ago due to severe understaffing of the police department.
Three recent homicides in Vallejo, including the shooting death of a 65-year-old man on the 2100 block of Griffin Drive less than two weeks ago, reinforced the importance of public safety in a city long racked by violence. Public safety is the number one concern of Vallejo residents, according to a city poll that ran Jan. 13 through March 16.
The council members specified up to $500,000 for as many security towers as that sum can buy, up to $50,000 for block parties and up to $300,000 to work with the Greater Vallejo Recreation District to create a needs-based subsidy program.
The council also directed staff to re-establish the Safe Start to School Programs at Lincoln, Hogan Middle School, St. Vincent Preschool through Eighth Grade and Pennycook Elementary School after school starts. The staff additionally will do research and bring budgetary information forward in the amount of up to $300,000 in funding for the Vallejo VISION Program.
Police Chief Jason Ta and Deputy Police Chief Bob Knight fielded questions and brainstormed with the council on crime mitigation strategies intended for the summer. Ta was playing a dual role, dressed in civilian clothes and standing in for City Manager Andrew Murray, who was on vacation.
While Ta acknowledged that the purpose of the meeting was to identify short-term crime mitigation strategies for the summer, a presentation by Knight included what he described as long-term options.
“We’re exploring the option of purchasing or leasing security towers,” said Knight. “It’s a fascinating, innovative way of dealing with crime, whether or not you just have a security tower that flashes a bright light and records versus a tower that’s monitored 24/7,” Knight said.
“You can move it to various locations in the city,” the deputy police chief said.
Security towers are elevated structures with cameras, sensors, and sometimes communication devices, providing a high vantage point for monitoring and deterring potential crimes. Knight described the towers as a long-term strategy.
Lediju said, “We have to do the long-term planning, that’s very important, but today we are supposed to talk about what are we going to do over these next three months.
“It not take us six months to get towers here. We need to get towers here within these summer months. It should not to be hard to do.” she concluded.
The council also directed staff to look into subsidies for access to Vallejo’s parks.
“Having a mitigation program for the summer is not just about policing,” Council Member Alexander Matias said. “I’ve been to the parks with my daughter the past couple weekends. It is cost prohibitive to not just participate in the programs but also to access the parks. So, is there an opportunity for this body to help out if the goal is to have a mitigation strategy for this summer?”
The council member noted, “Walnut Creek has $400 programs, but they offer scholarships that cover 75 to 80 percent of the program if you fall within a certain income bracket. Why are we not doing something similar for our families to make those parks available to them?”
Driving the point home, Lediju said, “We can pay 80 percent, 90 percent of the fees so our kids in Vallejo, no matter where they come from, can participate. There is no reason why we can’t do it. We can figure it out, and we have the next two weeks,” Lediju said. “Let’s move it.”
Again with an eye to mitigation, Matias asked Shelee Loughmiller, the city’s community and volunteer coordinator, “How fast could you stand up a block party program in our community? If someone wanted to apply to set up a block party in their street so we could barricade the streets and kids can just roam around and have fun.”
Loughmiller said, “We could definitely do it. It depends on how much of a block and what are the other detours hat are needed. It shouldn’t be hard it; just would take a little bit of time. Based off experience from pulling a permit so far a six to eight week process if it’s s a full street closure. If it’s a cul-de-sac somewhat different.”
Supervisor Cassandra James called into the meeting during the public comment period.
“As a District One supervisor and also speaking as a resident, It is critical that we remain clear-eyed about the disparities,” James said. “We must recommit to a regional safety strategy that brings out communities into alignment with shared goals and accountability.”
Longtime community advocate Liat Meitzenheimer also spoke during public comment.
“Going into the summer and making sure our community is safe, one of the biggest issues with the community is lack of trust with the police department because of history,” she said. “Every time I hear all this I don’t hear anything about reform. That should be part of the update.”
The city and the department have been engaged with the California Department of Justice since June 2020 to implement reform measures. The arrangement involves 45 reforms addressing bias, lack of police accountability and use of force.
In a surprise announcement, the council member received confirmation of what Meitzenheimer said she had heard: the department has now completed 27 of the reforms. That number seemingly stalled out in August at 20.
“That’s a good thing that should be told to the community,” Meitzenheimer said. “We’re getting there. That gives faith in the community that the police department is sincere about reform.
