More Work Required to Reduce Affordable Housing Gun-Fire/Crime

Today I read (in Off Seventh Street) about an October 11, 2007, gun-fire incident alleged to have been associated with the Lincoln Westmoreland Section 8 housing project.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ON THIS CRIME-INFESTED PROPERTY, THE LINCOLN WESTMORELAND -- I BELIEVE I AM REFERRING TO THE "II" PROJECT. IT IS TIME THAT A FEW ISSUES ARE TAKEN UP BY THE LEADERSHIP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS BY THE POLICE AND DC COUNCIL AS FOLLOWS:

1.INSTALL SHOT SPOTTERS -
This technology should be deployed immediately around the Lincoln Westmoreland. There are all too-frequent reported and unreported gun-shots coming from this property - I HEAR THEM. As a near-by homeowner I demand that the community leaders in this neighborhood and City take note: Install this technology (Shotspotter) to contribute to gun violence deterrence/detection in our area.

2. REQUIRE “RESIDENT ASSISTANT” (RA) PROGRAM IN THE WESTOMORELAND AND ALL PUBLIC HOUSING –
It is a more than apparent that the “crime haven” of the Westmoreland is out of control; the security guard program is a band-aid solution. Instituting – by DC Council law/statute -- a real authority (perhaps some policeman or policeman like-authority) to be required to live in each and every housing project, to learn and know the community, its members: the good and detrimental. This community dweller, living at the community and paid to strengthen the community social fabric and problem solving and deter (and have evicted) the “un” –social element.

3. REQUIRE “RA” PROGRAM IN PARCEL 42 –
I do not know how the Lincoln Westmoreland got to the despicable condition it is in, but, the pending proposal for Parcel 42 should include an RA program and/or some other creative thinking that prevents the creation of another Westmoreland.

What are your thoughts about additional measures that can be taken on this important public health issue?