The Community Safety Initiative (CSI) is a collaboration between Nuestra organizers, the City of Boston, Boston LISC, local law enforcement, peer community based organizations, and residents to combat crime and quality-of-life issues caused or worsened by foreclosure in our neighborhoods.

Nuestra's CSI strategy draws on the resources of the Boston Police Department and the City of Boston to increase our impact in high-crime, high-foreclosure areas.

Residents meet monthly with Nuestra and the local police to report and discuss suspicious or illegal activity occurring near where they live. In turn, we develop strategies to fight crime and blight as they arise in our neighborhoods. As a local property owner and developer, Nuestra can increase security in and around our own buildings, use environmental design techniques to reduce crime, and acquire foreclosed and/or abandoned properties for renovation and sale back to the community. The local police can share information with residents on where and when there have been reports of crime and can increase their presence in residents' areas of concern. Finally, the City of Boston can hold commercial property owners accountable by issuing citations requiring them to clean up their establishments.

Challenges

Even as economic conditions slowly improve across the state, Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan are still struggling with high foreclosure rates. In 2010 there were:

• Roxbury: 143 foreclosure deeds and 201 foreclosure petitions
• Dorchester: 250 foreclosure deeds and 379 petitions
• Mattapan: 90 foreclosure deeds and 145 petitions

Notably, Boston's top five neighborhoods for foreclosure, including Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan, accounted for 76% of all foreclosure deeds, yet only comprise 36% of the city’s residential properties.

Nuestra has focused its safety efforts in three police reporting areas in Roxbury around Blue Hill Avenue. Between 2008 and 2010, we have seen reductions in criminal activity in these areas, due in part to the efforts of our CSI Team:

Firearm arrests and robberies also declined during this period.

Accomplishments in 2010

• In a review of a police report for the period of June 6th, 2010 through December 31st, 2010, the block between 159 and 185 Howard Avenue had no reported incidents of gang confrontations.
• Residents helped Nuestra identify a property associated with criminal activity that was acquired, rehabilitated and sold to a new homeowner.

"I have enjoyed working with Nuestra...Nuestra recognizes that in order to accomplish great things and make great changes, we must take small steps at a time. Nuestra understands the power of personal relationships with residents and the Boston Police Department and that these relationships are the key to empowering people and neighborhoods.”

Carolyn Macneil
Director, Neighborhood Watch Unit
Boston Police Department Area B2

• Our organizing staff worked with police and the City of Boston’s Inspection Services Department to force private property owners to clean abandoned properties, issuing over 30 citations this past year.
• The CSI Team worked with residents and local organizations to fight against a disruptive local night club. The City required the club to close two hours earlier and limit the sale of alcohol after midnight.
• The CSI Team brought awareness to the issue of prostitution in our service area and contributed to a recent undercover prostitution sting conducted by the Boston Police department. A female police officer was stationed between the 100 and 400 blocks of Blue Hill Avenue in response to complaints about prostitution. Consequently, five “johns” were charged with soliciting sex for a fee.

Please check back for updated information on our progress! For more information or to get involved, please contact Paul Francois at 617-989-1200 or pfrancois@nuestracdc.org.