https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Events
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Events
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Subscribe to GovPro
    • Manage GovPro Subscription
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
acc.com


LOCAL COLOR/Under watchful eyes

LOCAL COLOR/Under watchful eyes

New Brighton, Minn., project transforms crime-laden community.
  • Written by Deanna Hart
  • 1st January 2006

Five years ago, New Brighton, Minn., realized that the old proverb “It takes a village” was true. In the midst of the close-knit community, Polynesian Village, an aging apartment complex that was once a residential hotspot, had become inundated with crime. To combat crime and retain community spirit, police organizations and residents joined together to form the Poly Partners — A Coalition for Quality of Life initiative.

In the 1970s, newcomers flocked to New Brighton, bypassing nearby Minneapolis and St. Paul. Polynesian Village was a main attraction for young people moving from the large, urban areas of Chicago and Gary, Ind., because of its Polynesian design and singles scene. New Brighton was a haven until crime began to drive away some of the city’s longtime residents. “[The crimes were] different for our neighborhood, and some of the crimes that were occurring were more associated with urban areas and nothing that we were used to handling out here in the suburban areas,” says Crime Prevention Officer Tony Paetznick. “At Polynesian Village, there was crime and disorder out of proportion with other multi-family properties.”

The troubles at Polynesian Village began in 1995 when a new management company took over the property and renovated the 20-year-old complex. To finance the renovations, the management received tax credits that required them to use a portion of the property for affordable housing units. Crime at the complex gradually escalated, and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) received increasing complaints of drug dealing, prostitution, theft and assault. By 2000, 10 percent of police calls in New Brighton came from the faltering community, resulting in a high residential turnover rate. “It wasn’t just the police department that had issues, so we realized that there were a lot of community players that needed to get involved,” Paetznick says. “And working together was the key to success here.”

DPS created a Crime-Free Multi-Housing Officer position to develop crime-reducing strategies and foster community relationships. A new city ordinance also was enacted that placed more responsibility for tenant behavior on the complex management. Residents, with the assistance of DPS, created a neighborhood watch program with building captains and a resident council. In addition, the presence of public safety officials became more prominent.

Other community agencies became involved with the project, including the city Parks and Recreation Department, Community Partners with Youth, the Mounds View School District, Northwest Youth and Family Services, the Opportunity Neighborhood Development Corp., the Suburban Ramsey Family Collaborative and Real Estate Equities/Village Green Properties. Each organization added improvements to the complex, including lighting, security and grounds maintenance, and onsite afterschool and social service programs.

Since the inception of the Poly Partners program, crime at Polynesian Village has decreased by 58 percent, according to the city. A 2003 survey conducted by the St. Paul, Minn.-based Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, also found that 77 percent of residents felt safe in their community, an increase from 53 percent just two years earlier. And, in December 2005, the Washington-based National League of Cities honored the program with the James C. Howland Award for Municipal Enrichment. Paetznick adds: “There’s a great deal of passion for what goes on at Polynesian Village from all the members of the collaborative in ensuring the continued success of the program.”

Tags:

Related


  • Local governments in Texas respond to cold snap, power grid failure
    As many Texans remain without power due to an ongoing cold snap in the state, local governments are taking varied measures to try to help their communities where they can. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which controls most of Texas’s power, said on Friday that it has returned to normal operating conditions, CNBC […]
  • Online sales tax collections proving essential for many state and local governments during COVID-19
    Many state and local government budgets rely heavily on sales tax collections. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, general sales tax collections took a major hit as businesses were forced to close and in-person spending almost came to a stop. Still, nearly a year into the pandemic, in-person sales have mostly resumed across the country but […]
  • Pennsylvania county will light up its buildings with hydro-electric power
    A planned hydropower plant will supply electricity for county-run operations in Allegheny County, Pa., according to an announcement by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. Boston-based Rye Development LLC will finance and build the 17.8-megawatt plant along the Ohio River at the Emsworth Main Channel Dam, near Pittsburgh. Under the terms of a 35-year power purchase agreement […]
  • Hi-tech sewers can help safeguard public health, environment and economies
    In the wake of the coronavirus, economic recovery is top of mind for all city leaders, the majority of whom believe that investing in infrastructure and technology can spur a rebound. Yet current analyses indicate that we only have funding available to cover approximately 57 percent of infrastructure system improvements through 2029, leaving an investment gap […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • The future of transportation – leveraging smart solutions to boost user experience
  • Five reasons why city managers should put utility vehicles to work
  • U.S. County Brings Free Public Wi- Fi to More Than 30,000+ Rural, Low-Income Students and Workers
  • Hackers attempt to poison water supply in Florida town

White papers


Discover How Public Sector Officials are Monitoring and Managing Overtime in This New White Paper

22nd February 2021

How to Assemble a Successful Government Grant Proposal

5th February 2021

The Rise of Procurement’s Next Normal

5th February 2021
view all

Events


PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

Using data to improve emergency response resources dlvr.it/RtVSc0

25th February 2021
AmerCityCounty

How small cities are tackling lead service line replacement dlvr.it/RtV9G8

25th February 2021
AmerCityCounty

COVID-19 and pivoting into a new year: It may be 2021, but did we really leave 2020? dlvr.it/RtQRcr

24th February 2021
AmerCityCounty

Six tips for making sure your dispatch is doing all the right moves dlvr.it/RtQBvl

24th February 2021
AmerCityCounty

New pandemic recovery tools for public transit dlvr.it/RtLJ61

23rd February 2021
AmerCityCounty

Artificial cities could pave the way to driverless adoption dlvr.it/RtJGZZ

23rd February 2021
AmerCityCounty

How city leaders can develop, manage and maintain strategic partnerships dlvr.it/RtGGYy

22nd February 2021
AmerCityCounty

Baltimore will distribute recycling carts to residents to encourage recycling dlvr.it/RtGB6n

22nd February 2021

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X