Parker: National Night Out offers chance for real change
As with many really great ideas, expansion usually ruins objectives.
Big campaigns morph into red-taped bureaucracy. Small municipalities that fail to implement smart growth initiatives expand with such fierce “progress” that they eventually suffer substantial fiscal challenges.
Old school usually connects with successful formulas. Talking beats texting. Honesty trumps deceit. Personal responsibility ranks better than excuses.
On Tuesday, a fantastic idea suffers another setback as National Night Out 2018 delivers ginormous events in parks, police stations and other venues, an obliteration of original NNO intent to build strong blocks and neighborhoods.
National Night Out has been held annually since 1984, beginning simply with neighbors turning on their porch lights, hanging out on stoops and sitting in front of their homes, a far cry from the monstrosities created by people afraid or disinterested with meeting their next-door strangers and in turn, strengthening relationships.
The National Association Town Watch describes its National Night Out as “an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community.”
The original National Night Out involved 2.5 million residents across 400 communities in 23 states; National Night Out 2018 anticipates more than 40 million residents in about 18,000 communities across the United States.
Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
In communities across Mercer County, a problem exists in determining whether the new people on the block arrive as legitimate neighbors or squatters.
Former Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson and his police Director Ernie Parrey, Jr. failed to implement police officers walking beats despite the fact that they witnessed first-hand with National Night Out visits to residents here on Franklin St. how relationships improve with personal interaction.
Director Parrey seated on a stoop surrounded by Franklin St. residents with a baby on his lap remains a personal photo favorite.
The photo remains saved on my phone as a reminder that community policing can work, will build powerful relationships and cultivate mutual respect between law enforcement and residents.
These partnerships require more than 10-minute exchanges but they represent beginnings.
Mayor Reed Gusciora voiced a campaign promise to implement police foot patrols, a pledge which remains unfulfilled.
Granted, Gusciora deals with minutiae of early governing efforts, plus, an important search for a new police director.
Chambersburg residents have witnessed an uptick in property theft, car break ins and other quality of life invasions, including drivers blaring car horns at pre-dawn hours.
Pedro Medina, interim police director or potentially the permanent city law enforcement leader, could soothe Franklin St. residents concerns with a temporary walking police detail.
City leaders were warned about the dire consequences that would occur if initiatives were not enacted to protect healthy neighborhoods and blocks.
It’s disheartening to feel that our need for support goes unanswered.
“What’s going on with our block,” asked Dean, an Italian brother who stayed in the Burg as others left.
This guy is the best neighbor anyone could wish for and his concerns register as heartfelt.
“We gotta look out for our block, our people,” he added while putting away a neighbor’s trash container.
We will. The 100 block of Franklin St. holds another National Night Out celebration on August 7.
All police officers, county sheriffs, firefighters, emergency medical service employees, nonprofit workers are welcome.