Crime Falls in University City

Philadelphia, PA (22 January 2003) --- University City District (UCD) announced today that major crime in University City decreased 19% in 2002 over the previous year. The figures provided by the Philadelphia Police Department illustrate a four-year downward trend in offenses in the area overlapping parts of three police districts and bounded by 50th Street, Spring Garden Street, the Schuylkill River, and Woodland Avenue.

Crime categories most dramatically reduced are homicide (-50%), residential burglary (-62%), and auto theft (-47%).

Early in the UCD’s history, its board of directors recognized that improvement of public safety was key to reinvigorating the neighborhood. It created the Ambassador Program to bring extra eyes and ears to University City’s streets and a level of comfort to its residents, workers, students, and visitors. Uniformed in gold, UCD's 43 unarmed Ambassadors patrol on foot and on bicycles every day from 8 am to 3 am. They serve as a highly visible deterrent to crime, provide directions and pedestrian assistance, and can call for help in emergencies.

In 1999, two more events further advanced University City’s public safety. The first was the opening of a Philadelphia Police Department substation in the UCD’s Operations Center at 40th and Chestnut Streets. The substation has 25 officers and is commanded by Lt. Fred Carbonara. The second initiative was the founding of UCD’s Public Safety Task Force. This group of security professionals from UCD, Philadelphia Police, universities and institutions, and Town Watch coordinates information regarding crime trends, community-wide problems, and deployment. The Task Force is chaired by Maureen Rush, Vice President of Public Safety at the University of Pennsylvania.

In October 2001, UCD added technological capability to its public safety effort with the launch of UCDCAMS, University City District Crime Analysis and Mapping System. This customized software application maps out crime data according to spatial boundaries, temporal criteria, and offense categories chosen by the user. UCDCAMS is unique among special services districts in the region and enables Police and public safety personnel to spot and combat crime trends and hotspots quickly. "We use the maps at every meeting," Carbonara said.

UCD’s executive director Eric T. Goldstein is upbeat over the figures but aware that the effort must be sustained. "We are enormously pleased with the dramatic crime reduction in University City, but we are certainly not resting on our laurels. In order to maintain a safe community, we must remain vigilant, ensure that financial resources remain in place, and nurture communications among institutions, public and private security forces. Despite the tremendous progress, there is still work to be done." UCD’s Public Safety Program is its highest budget item at over $1.6 million annually. And unlike other special services districts in the region, UCD is funded entirely by voluntary contributions, not by mandatory tax assessments.

Carbonara echoed Goldstein’s assessment. "With numbers like these, it’s important not to let your guard down. Cooperation and communication among the parties here is the biggest factor in keeping crime down. Between Public Safety Task Force meetings, we have deployment meetings where Police, Ambassadors, and university police and security departments discuss what’s happening on the street."

Rush noted that "all of the institutions and neighbors throughout University City have worked tirelessly to create a safe, clean and vibrant community. We realize that we must continue to be united in our efforts going forward in order to maintain and improve the current climate of safety and security."

University City District builds effective partnerships to maintain a clean and safe environment and to promote, plan, and advocate for University City's diverse urban community. UCD's programs to improve streetscapes and parks, remove trash and graffiti, provide technical assistance to home- and business owners, increase public safety, and publicize University City's advantages have improved the quality of life since 1997. For more information, call 215 243 0555 or visit www.UCityphila.org.

Release Date: Wednesday, January 22nd 2003