The Detroit Crime Commission also handles nuisance abatement claims.
"That's the only way to get this under control.
That or hire 10,000 cops, and that isn't hap-
pening."
Prosecutor Worthy's office is also "woefully
understaffed," according to Arena. Worthy
is in an ongoing, public dispute with Wayne
County Executive Bob Ficano over her bud-
get.
"I've talked to Kym about it, and she's fac-
ing the same shortages as the police depart-
ment," Arena said. "They're being asked
to do more with less and that's difficult. It
compounds a violent crime problem, makes it
more difficult to address. This is a two-head-
ed monster. We have a lack of law enforce-
ment resources and a lack of prosecutorial
resources. That's a double whammy."
Arena identified another stumbling point
for the police and prosecutors: an abundance
of cold cases.
"If you don't have the resources to investi-
gate the crime happening now, how do you
go back and investigate what happened years
or decades ago? A few years ago, the Detroit
Police Department got a federal grant from
the Department of Justice to address cold
case homicides and then lost it, and now we're
trying to help them get it back"
Farmington Hills, also says he feels safe,
When it comes to the city's neighborhoods like Cork-
"for the most part?' The 37-year-old lives in
town and Indian Village — now popular for suburban
Broderick Tower, off Grand Circus Park, and
relocation — Arena says people "watch out for each
"loves living Downtown:'
other:'
"I do feel a need to be somewhat more
"They have hired private security. They have neigh-
cautious than when I was living in the sub-
borhood watch groups, and we work with a number of
urbs, but not so much so that it's paralyzing," them at the DCC," Arena said. "We are 'of counsel' to
said Hack, who moved to Detroit from Royal these groups, advising them on how to deal with crime
Oak just over a year ago. Hack has doubled
and violent crime issues. To a certain extent, we tell
down on the move, having recently renewed
the neighborhood groups they have to help themselves
his lease in the iconic residential skyscraper.
until the cavalry can get here, and they have to be the
Tara Forman
Ryan Landau, 25, lives just a few blocks
ones to watch their own neighborhoods. The University
down Woodward, in Village Green's Detroit
District, Rosedale Park, Corktown ... these are strong
City Apartments. After moving back to
and active neighborhoods with community organiza-
Michigan from Chicago 18 months ago, the
tions and neighborhood watches that work very hard:'
Chalkfly.com co-founder says he loves the
city, calling it the "best place to live for young RESPONSE TIMES
professionals:' Like Forman and Hack,
One struggle for Chief Craig will be bringing down 9-1-1
Landau says he has not been the victim of a
response times, Arena said.
single crime in the city.
There's an argument about what to measure: when
"I feel safe, but it's like any big city,"
the call comes in, or when it goes to dispatch, how
Landau said. "You just need to be smart. I
backed up the calls are, when they go to the call center,
think I'm as cautious or alert as I am in the
what's done when they're received.
Jay Hack
suburbs. It's about the same."
"It's something they're looking very hard at right
It seems no matter where
now," Arena said.
you live there is a need to be
"That's a big issue inter-
vigilant and self-protective.
nally. It's part of what their
"I live in Northville, and it's
restructuring is all about,
Mayberry out there, but you
but first you have to get
FEELING SAFE IN THE CITY
have to be aware of where you
that innovative, aggressive
Despite its identifiable problems, however,
are. That's just the world we
command team in place," he
live in," Arena said. "There are
Detroit is seeing an increase in the number
said. "The next stage is then
of young Jewish adults moving back into the
crazy people out there, people
reorganizing the department,
city.
who resort to violence at the
getting the people where you
"I'm maybe more cautious and aware of
drop of a hat, and you have to
need them. You don't need
my surroundings, but it would be a mistake
be aware of your surroundings
trained officers doing pay
Ryan Landau
not to be alert," explained Tara Forman, an out-
no matter where you are.
roll, per se. You need them
"I spend a lot of time Downtown,"
reach and engagement associate with the Jewish Fed-
on the street, and we need
eration of Metropolitan Detroit's NEXTGen team. The
Arena added." I go to a lot of ball games,
our officers to be proac-
27-year-old moved back to Michigan from Manhattan
and I bring my kids down to skate at
tive, working to fight crime
last year, and into Midtown's Park Shelton, across from
Campus Martius. There are a ton of res-
as it happens or before it
the Detroit Institute of Arts on Woodward.
taurants I love in the city, and personally,
happens. If you run around
The DCC is helping to test the backlog of
"I love it! I love living Downtown. It's one of the
my family spends a great deal of time
continually responding, it's
rape kits in Detroit.
down here. I'm aware of my surround-
best parts about moving back home," said the Bloom-
a catch 22, a dog chasing its
field Hills native, who says she's never been the victim
ings, but I don't have fear. I think most
tail:'
of crime in the city. "I have just as much 'fear' as I
people are operating that way; if you're down here you
So does Detroit have the potential for a Times
would in any urban environment. Crazy things happen
should be OK."
Square-esque turnaround? Arena certainly thinks so.
everywhere. I'm not delusional. I understand I live
"That's the focus right now, and that's the hope.
in a unique area, but I'm not outrageously fearful of
SECURITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS
What they did in New York was driven by the 'broken
anything.
In Downtown's Central Business District, Arena believes
windows' theory of policing. You don't allow even the
"The difference between New York and Detroit is the
it's safe, thanks in large part to added private security,
smallest crime; you don't accept anything. You deal
critical mass of people, so in Detroit I'm more uncom-
law enforcement and community watch groups like the
with it, deal with it quickly, use data, hold people ac-
Downtown Detroit Partnership's Project Lighthouse,
fortable in a place with few people around, and I try
countable, identify problem areas and what's driving
to avoid those situations. I would say I'm alert because
which brings together the Detroit Police Department
crime, look at the metrics, and then hold commanders
it's my responsibility to be so as a person in the world,"
and more than 30 local businesses to provide shelter,
responsible. That's what New York did, and obviously
Forman said.
aid, safety, information and potential lodging for those in they were very, very successful," said Arena. "Detroit is
Jay Hack, a financial adviser at Raymond James in
need of temporary assistance.
moving in that direction." RT
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RED THREAD I November 2013 37