Executive Summary Year Three (FY 2009-2010) Progress and Outcomes Weed and Seed Community: Long Beach Police Beats 4 and 5

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
"#"$%&'("!)%**+,-.!
!
-"+,!&/,""!01-!2334523637!8,9:,"))!+;<!9%&$9*")!
!
=""<!+;<!)""<!$9**%;'&-.!>9;:!?"+$/!?"+&)!@!+;<!A!
!
!
"#$%$&'$(!)*+!!
!
),$!-.'/!*0!1*&2!3$45,!6$74#'8$&'!*0!9$4:',!4&(!9;84&!<$#=.5$%!
!>$$(!4&(!<$$(!<'$$#.&2!-*88.''$$!
!
!
!
<;?8.''$(!3/+!
!
@4'.$!A.#4&'B!C<>!
D=4:;4'*#!
-.'/!*0!1*&2!3$45,!6$74#'8$&'!*0!9$4:',!4&(!9;84&!<$#=.5$%!
1*&2!3$45,!"*:.5$!3$4'%!E!4&(!F!>$$(!4&(!<$$(!-*88;&.'/!
1*&2!3$45,B!-G!
!
!
H*=$8?$#!IFB!JKIK!
!

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY YEAR THREE (FY 2009-2010) EVALUATION WEED & SEED COMMUNITY: LONG BEACH BEATS 4 AND 5
!

INTRODUCTION:

The Long Beach Weed and Seed Collaborative is a
community-based strategy sponsored by the U.S.
Department of Justice (DOJ) that offers an innovative,
comprehensive multi-agency approach to law
enforcement, crime prevention, and community
revitalization. The City of Long Beach Department of
Health and Human Services, Bureau of Community
Health oversees the Weed and Seed five-year grant
under its Health Promotion Division. Weed and Seed
is foremost a strategy—rather than a grant program—
that aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime,
drug abuse, and gang activity in designated high-crime neighborhoods across the country. The
Long Beach Weed and Seed strategy evaluated in Central Long Beach addresses Police Beats 4
and 5: Los Angeles River to the west; Hill Street to the north; Cherry Avenue to the east; and
Anaheim Street to the south.

Before Weed and Seed intervention began, the target area in Central Long Beach had consistently
experienced the highest levels of crime in the City of Long Beach. The target area has a population
of 45,887, and a large youth population under the age of 21, with 22,575 youth living within the
target area’s 2.02 sq mile radius. The ethnic make up in the designated site is 55% Hispanic, 17%
African American, 17% Asian, 5% Caucasian, 3% American Indian, 1% Native Hawaiian, and less
than 1% Other. Cambodians make up a large percent of the Asian population. The target area also
experiences the highest concentration of poverty in the City of Long Beach. Thirty-seven percent
of residents in the target area zip codes 90806 and 90813 are living below poverty level, with
median household income at $21,728, and 52% earning less than $15,000 annually. Furthermore,
46% speak Spanish, and 34% are non-citizens. There are 11,624 households in the target area; 81%
of residents rent, 19% are owners, and there are 1,017 vacancies.

The national Weed and Seed strategy involves a two-pronged approach: law enforcement agencies
and prosecutors cooperate in "weeding out" violent criminals and drug abusers and public agencies
and community-based private organizations collaborate to "seed" much-needed human services,
including prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood restoration programs. A
community-oriented policing component bridges the weeding and seeding elements. The Weed and
Seed strategy is a multilevel strategic plan that includes four basic components: law enforcement;
community policing; prevention, intervention, and treatment; and neighborhood restoration. Four
fundamental principles underlie the Weed and Seed strategy: collaboration, coordination,
community participation, and leveraging of resources.

Promoting the long-term health and resilience of the community is a true goal of Weed and Seed,
so sustainability must be a key part of a site's structure. The foundation for sustainability involves
maintaining the steering committee as a mechanism for ongoing implementation of the Weed and
Seed strategy beyond the life of the grant and identifying and securing existing and new resources
and funding sources.

The Long Beach Weed and Seed Collaborative (referred to as "the Collaborative") offers several
benefits to its partners. The Collaborative is made up of a diverse network of law enforcement, city

! I!

!

agencies, community organizations and residents working together towards the common goal of
reducing violent crime, gang activity, and drug abuse in the target area, and offering social services
to build and strengthen the health and long-term resilience of the community. Tools designed to
increase resident participation, such as, the City of Long Beach DHHS Weed and Seed
Comprehensive Services Guide and the Weed and Seed Monthly Calendar assist partner
organizations to reach out and educate the public about social services offered in the target
community. Furthermore, the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services
offers valuable technical assistance to the Collaborative, including covering the cost of permits
(which provides an in-kind resource to partner agencies looking for space to serve the target
community) and linking partner organizations to academia through graduate intern assistance
(which aids organizations in fine-tuning their practices and tailoring them to meet the needs of the
target area). Additionally, the Collaborative has helped many partner organizations to leverage
funds to continue and expand those social services that are in alignment with the Long Beach Weed
and Seed goals and objectives (A list of funds leveraged through Weed and Seed is available in
Appendix B of the full-length evaluation report).

This report represents the executive summary of a full-length evaluation completed on the Long
Beach Weed and Seed Strategy after its third year of implementation. This executive summary
contains both outcome and process evaluations for each of the Long Beach Weed and Seed
Subcommittees (Please see the Long Beach Weed and Seed Overview below). The outcome
evaluation reviews the extent to which Weeding and Seeding Strategies have statistically achieved
the goals and objectives stated in the Long Beach Weed and Seed Strategic Plan for Year Three of
grant implementation. These numbers were provided by law enforcement and other partner
organizations engaging in weeding and seeding strategies within the target area. The Long Beach
Weed and Seed Programs’ process evaluation was informed by key informant interviews and will
analyze the Collaborative’s successful implementation of Weeding and Seeding strategies in terms
of collaboration, coordination, the leveraging of resources and community participation. This
summary will also include recommendations for ensuring the sustainability of Long Beach Weed
and Seed efforts moving into Year Four of Strategy implementation.

>BCD!?EFGH!=EEI!FCI!)EEI!8JBDJFK!9LEJLMEN!
6LM!-**#(.&4'*#!4&(!-*N5,4.#+!)$(!C4#O;$P!

6.#$5'*#!*0!9$4:',!4&(!9;84&!<$#=.5$%+!Q*&!G#.4%!
C4&42$#!-*88;&.'/!9$4:',!3;#$4;+!),$#$%4!C4#.&*!

-*N5,4.#!4&(!-*88;&.'/!Q$%.($&'+!6#R!1/(.4!9*::.$!
"#*2#48!-**#(.&4'*#+!)#45/!-*:;&24!
"#*2#48!G%%.%'4&'+!<'45$/!-,#.%'$&%*&!

=EEIMCD!)OJFOEDMEP!
!SFKT!*0!U;&(%V! )EEIMCD!)OJFOEDMEP!SFKT!*0!U;&(%V!
>$%'!6.=.%.*&!
3$4'%!E!W!F!

! J!

!

LAW ENFORCEMENT OUTCOME DATA:
The following description of law enforcement outcomes refer to full years 2008 and 2009, as these
years include the most complete data since strategy implementation began in October 2007.
Baseline data is considered those numbers reported for full-year 2007.

Goal 1: Reduce Narcotic Activity
Drug related arrests have decreased significantly over the past two years, with a net decrease of -
39%. Although the measure for reduction of narcotic activity was an increase in arrests for Year
Three, targeted enforcement (in which there has been an increase in drug warrants and operations)
appears to be having an effect sooner than expected at the time the measure was written. The idea
is that during the first few years of Weed and Seed Strategy implementation, arrests should be on
the rise due to targeted enforcement; however, since Strategy implementation, narcotic arrests have
been declining (-5.4% change in 2008 and -35.5% change in 2009). Nevertheless, the number of
narcotic related calls for services have also been declining (with a net decrease of -41%), which
suggests that the reduction in arrests is actually due to a reduction in narcotic crime in the target
area.

Goal 2: Reduce Violent Crime
Violent crime related arrests and incidents have decreased significantly over the past two years,
with a net decrease of -7.3% for arrests (-14.6% change during 2009) and -13.4% for incidents
(-2.9% change during 2009). An increase in violent crime operations, which have at minimum
doubled since grant implementation, appear to be reducing violent crime in the target area at a rate
greater than expected since at this point in time it was expected that arrests would have increased.
However, the number of violent crime incidents has declined along with arrests, which shows that
violent crime has been reduced in the target area consistently since the Long Beach Weed and Seed
Strategy began (see graph on next page).

! X!

!

NIKR[T! ;EO!Q!$HFCDE!233R52334.!
G##$%'%+!NYRXT!
Z&5.($&'%+!NIXRET!

Goal 3: Reduce Nighttime Loitering:
During the first year of Strategy implementation, law enforcement far exceeded is expectation to
increase nighttime loitering citations by 5% by actually increasing citations by 118.4%. Perhaps the
strategies implemented in Year One yielded a higher increase of citations which favorably
impacted the issuance of citations during the following with a reduction of -60.8 %. As a corollary,
the number of citations during 2009 was less than the number of citations in 2007 prior to Strategy
implementation, which suggests that the need has decreased for nighttime loitering citations in the
target area. Indeed, nighttime loitering citations have decrease a net of -14.4% over the last two
years. The number of nighttime loitering task force operations was not recorded by law
enforcement over these past two years but is presently being recorded for 2010.

! E!

!

Gang-related Statistics:
Law enforcement has met and exceeded its expectation to increase arrests of gang members
citywide over the past two years, with a net increase of 19.7% (and an increase of 14% in 2009).
Although the measure reads “gang arrests for violent crime,” law enforcement does not
discriminate this information as thus numbers represent gang arrests for all crimes. However, gang-
related calls for service are available by police beat, and have decreased since strategy
implementation in 2007.

Truancy-related Statistics:
The measure for truancy includes both citations and arrests because these are considered the same
numbers by law enforcement (e.g. an arrest is always accompanied by a citation, even though a
citation is not always accompanied by an arrest). During the first full year of strategy
implementation, truancy citations/arrests increased by 62.1%, and then decreased by -2.4% in the
target area. Average daily attendance at Butler Elementary, Washington Middle School, and Poly
High School have increased from the 2008 –2009 school year to the 2009 – 2010 school by 1.66%,
1.12%, and .38% consecutively, although these increases are not statistically significant. It is
difficult to determine whether truancy citations/arrests are down due to less truancy in the target
area. Truancy citations/arrests may be down because there were no targeted truancy operations
reported for 2009, whereas six truancy operations were reported the previous year when truancy
citations/arrests were high.

Graffiti-related Statistics:
The number of arrests for graffiti offenses has decreased a net of -28.5% over the past two years of
strategy implementation (with a decrease of -11% in 2009). The number of graffiti operations has
remained steady during this time. The number of graffiti-related calls to law enforcement has also
declined over the last two years, with a net decrease of -29.8% (-13.5% during 2009). The decrease
in both graffiti offenses and calls experienced over the last two years suggest that graffiti-related
incidents have decreased in the target area.

2010 Weeding Predictions:
An attempt to measure Weed and Seed’s progress
towards achieving law enforcement outcomes in
2010 was made by comparing half-year 2009
LBPD statistics (January 1st – June 30th) to 2010
year-to-date statistics (January 1st - June 30th). The
graph shows that 2010 year-to-date “Violent
Crime Incidents” numbers are fairly equal to the
number of “Violent Crime Incidents” reported for
half-year 2009, but for all other categories,
citations/arrests are down when comparing 2010
YTD numbers to the same time period in 2009.
Hence, these numbers forecast that the 2010 full-
year data has a reasonable likelihood chance of
remaining lower than the 2009 full-year data, and that the Weeding Strategies are continuing to
achieve their target outcomes.

! F!

!

WEED SUBCOMMITTEE:

90'5!:%(6;!*0).6%!1%2$C!>'$%&'()!*(&$'%&+,!! "#$%&'()!*(&$'%&+,!! -.$?!0/!90'5!:%(6;!*(&$'%&+,!!
1&45!"'/0&6%3%'$!A%6$.0'!! ! ! -()./0&'.(!1%2(&$3%'$!0/!*(&0)%!!
! 1%2(&$3%'$!0/!I%()$;!('8!
<('5!"'/0&6%3%'$!A%6$.0'!! 1&45!"'/0&6%3%'$!783.'.+$&($.0'!! I43('!A%&B.6%+!!
G&(//.6!A%6$.0'!! 90'5!:%(6;!-()<=>*! 1%2(&$3%'$!0/!*4D).6!J0&K+!
H04$;!A%&B.6%+!A%6$.0'!! 97!-04'$?!1%2(&$3%'$!0/!! F//.6%!0/!$;%!-.$?!*&0+%64$0&!
!!!!!!-;.)8&%'!('8!@(3.)?!A%&B.6%+!
97!-04'$?!1%2$C!0/!*&0D($.0'!
97!-04'$?!1.+$&.6$!7$$0&'%?E+!F//.6%!!!
!
Outcomes for Goals and Objectives:
Statistical data provided by law enforcement (described thoroughly in the previous section) shows
that narcotic, violent crime, nighttime loitering, and graffiti crime statistics have been reduced in
the target area (Police Beats 4 and 5) since strategy implementation in October of 2007 and is
evidence that Weeding strategies are being implemented effectively.

Coordination and Collaboration:
• Interviews with the Long Beach Weed and Seed Safe Haven Park Directors, Subcommittee Co-
chairs, the Steering Committee Co-chair, and Site Director confirm that law enforcement has
actively engaged with city agencies and community organizations to develop strong
relationships through community policing strategies. They recognize positive changes in
resident-police relationships in the target community due to these efforts.
• Law enforcement officers have been actively involved in the Long Beach Youth Leadership
Program activities, Helpline Parent Empowerment classes, and the Community Peace Garden.
• Law enforcement has been a strong presence in Weed and Seed Collaborative efforts with
consistent attendance at Steering Committee meetings and community events.
• During January’s Peace Week, fifty youth participated in the youth-police dialogues, made
possible through collaboration and coordination among the Long Beach Weed and Seed Youth

! !

!

Leadership Program, California Conference for Equality and Justice (CCEJ) and the Long
Beach Police Department.

Recommendations for Sustainability during Year Four:
• Engage the participation of key city and community organizations already listed as part of the
Weed Subcommittee. It has been reported that there are presently five organizations or
departments actively participating on the subcommittee, whereas thirteen representatives were
originally established when forming the subcommittee. It is important to assess which of these
organizations are important to reengage in order to improve the efficiency of Weeding efforts
through improved collaboration and coordination in the community.
• Continue to strengthen community-police relations to promote sustainability of Weeding efforts
in the target community. Focused interventions in collaboration with community organizations
engaged in Seeding strategies, such as youth-police and community-police dialogues, should be
continued and expanded to achieve this goal. Furthermore, continuing to support and strengthen
police involvement in other Weed and Seed sustainable efforts, such as the Long Beach Weed
and Seed Youth Leadership Program, Helpline Parent Empowerment Program, and the
Community Peace Garden, will support the longevity of community policing strategies in the
target area.

! Y!

!

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION SUBCOMMITTEE:

The Family Engagement and Violence Prevention Subcommittee (FE&VP) serves to fulfill grant
objectives listed under the prevention, intervention, and treatment component of the Weed and
Seed Strategy. This component concentrates an array of human services in the target area and links
law enforcement, social services agencies, the private sector, and the community to improve the
overall quality of services to residents. In order to better coordinate violence prevention efforts in
the target community, the Family Engagement and Violence Prevention Subcommittee is a hybrid
of the Long Beach Gang Reduction, Intervention, and Prevention (Long Beach CalGRIP) Advisory
Council and the Weed and Seed Collaborative partner organizations. With the same target area,
similar goals and objectives, and shared partner organizations, these collaboratives decided to
merge into one subcommittee to spearhead family engagement and violence prevention efforts in
the target community. Please see below for a chart of the Family Engagement and Violence
Prevention Subcommittee’s makeup and accomplishments.

@(3.)?!"'5(5%3%'$!('8!L.0)%'6%!*&%B%'$.0'!A4D6033.$$%%!

<;?5*88.''$$!C$8?$#%+!
',!6.%'#.5'!-.'/!-*;&5.:!L00.5$! ! ! !!!!!!!!! 1*&2!3$45,!-*88.%%.*&!*&!-,.:(#$&!4&(!]*;',!
3*/%!4&(!^.#:%!-:;?!*0!^#$4'$#!1*&2!3$45,!! ! 1*&2!3$45,!-*88;&.'/!Z87#*=$8$&'!1$42;$!
-G!6$74#'8$&'!*0!-*##$5'.*&%!4&(!Q$,4?.:.'4'.*&! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1*%!G&2$:$%!-*;&'/!6$74#'8$&'!*0!"#*?4'.*&!
-4:^QZ"!S^4&2!Q$(;5'.*&B!Z&'$#=$&'.*&B!4&(!"#$=$&'.*&V!!!!!1*&2!3$45,!6$7'R!*0!"4#_%B!Q$5#$4'.*&!4&(!C4#.&$!
-4:.0*#&.4!-*&0$#$&5$!0*#!DO;4:.'/!4&(!M;%'.5$!S--DMV!!!!!!!!!!!!1*&2!3$45,!"*:.5$!6$74#'8$&'B!>$%'!6.=.%.*&!
-*88;&.'/!Q$%.($&'%! ! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1*&2!3$45,!`&.0.$(!<5,**:!6.%'#.5'!
6$74#'8$&'!*0!-,.:(#$&!4&(!U48.:/!<$#=.5$%! ! "$45$"4#'&$#%B!Z&5R!
U4.',N34%$(!-*::4?*#4'.=$! ! ! ! <'R!C4#/a%!C$(.54:!-$&'$#!
9$:7:.&$!]*;',!-*;&%$:.&2! ! ! ! <;7$#.*#!-*;#'!*0!-4:.0*#&.4B!-*;&'/!*0!1*%!G&2$:$%!
!
!
! [!

!

Outcome Data for Goals and Objectives:
Statistical data provided by city agencies and nonprofits in the Collaborative shows that
educational, social and economic/life skills training and career preparation activities for youth and
adults are being implemented in the target community to meet the goals and objectives stated in the
Long Beach Weed and Seed Grant. Please see the full-length report for details.

Examples of successful coordination and collaboration by the FE&VP Subcommittee during Year
Three of the Long Beach Weed and Seed strategy include:
• Coordination with youth-serving organizations to offer free trainings and services to youth in
the Weed and Seed Youth Leadership Program, including the Boys and Girls Club, YMCA,
The State of the Art Project, and The Long Beach Shakespeare Company;
• Coordination with Helpline Youth Counseling to provide Parent Empowerment Classes in
English, Spanish and Khmer and integrate best practices for how to empower and teach skills
for parents to be effective leaders at home and in community settings;
• Coordination with the City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation, and Marine to use
its Recreation Hall and other facilities for community events and classes, at no cost to the
Collaborative;
• Partnership with the University of California Los Angeles to engage a graduate level intern
who provided technical assistance to the Subcommittee as a well as a link to academia to
inform the development and implementation of Subcommittee efforts.
• Leveraging the Long Beach Weed and Seed Youth Leadership Program in planning and
outreach efforts to increase youth participation in the Youth and Police Dialogues, coordinated
by California Conference on Equality and Justice (CCEJ) in partnership with law enforcement
in the target area;
• Partnership with the LBUSD to inform the Subcommittee’s Truancy and School Connectedness
Conference planning and reinforce its implementation, along with a variety of its other
collaborating partners: Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Los
Angeles County Probation Office, the Faith-Based Collaborative and other community-based
youth and family-serving organizations;

Community Participation:
• Engaged several city and community organizations in the collaborative efforts described above.
• Spearheaded Weed and Seed efforts to strengthen resident involvement in the target community
through its Youth Leadership and Parent Project Programs.
• The Long Beach Weed and Seed Youth Leadership Program has connected youth to volunteer
opportunities in the community, including youth assistance to Weed and Seed staff in the
organization and implementation of community empowerment events and neighborhood
restoration activities.
• Youth have participated in Long Beach Weed and Seed Steering and Subcommittee meetings,
offering a youth-based perspective on problems in the community and providing information
that will be utilized in the planning of future Weed and Seed interventions, including the
Truancy and School Connectedness Conference.

! b!

!

Leveraging of Resources:
The FE&VP Subcommittee’s successful efforts to coordinate and collaborate with various
organizations in the target community contributed to the leveraging of resources to strengthen
violence prevention and intervention activities. Examples of the leveraging of resources through
FE&VP Subcommittee efforts have been listed above. In addition, the Long Beach Weed and Seed
Program was able to leverage $39,300 in funds for its Youth Leadership Program, provided by the
Leadership Long Beach Connected Corridor Project ($14,000), State Farm Strong Neighborhoods
Grant ($5,000), Kaiser Permanente Violence Prevention Grant ($5,000), and Long Beach CalGRIP
Youth Beautification Project Grant ($15,300).

• Carefully review and utilize the publication “Developing a Sustainability Plan” by the
Community Capacity Development Office to address each dimension of sustainability
(Structural Effort, Community Impact, and Resource Development) and their indicators in
planning interventions over the next two years.
• Develop strategies to accomplish the stated goals and objectives for family engagement and
violence prevention in the Long Beach Weed and Seed Strategic Plan for Year Four.
• Continue to align FE&VP goals, objectives, and intervention efforts with those of the
California Endowment Building Healthy Communities Initiative outcomes and logic models
since the California Endowment will be a funding source in the target area for the next ten
years. Furthermore, the California Endowment has shown interest in funding the continuation
of both youth and adult advocacy in the target area using the Long Beach Weed and Seed
Youth Leadership Program and Neighborhood Action Council models.
• Utilize the Parent Project Program administered by Helpline Youth Counseling to increase
adult resident participation in Long Beach Weed and Seed activities and leadership
opportunities on the FE&VP Subcommittee.
• Continue to strengthen relationships with the Long Beach Unified School District and Faith-
based Collaborative, and build relationships with the business community.
• Continue to strengthen partnership with the Long Beach Police Department to improve
community-police relations through Youth and Police and Community and Police Dialogues.
Dovetail these Dialogues with the Conflict Resolution Workshops offered by PeaceBuilders as
a way to teach community youth and adults how to respond to conflict without resorting to
violence.
• Utilize partnerships with city agencies such as Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation
and Marine, Long Beach Unified School District, and community nonprofit organizations to
leverage resources and expand youth mentoring opportunities in the target area.

! IK!

!

REENTRY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE:

The Reentry and Workforce Development Subcommittee serves to fulfill grant objectives listed
under the prevention, intervention, and treatment component of the Weed and Seed Strategy,
especially those pertaining to the reentry population. This subcommittee may work closely with the
Family Engagement and Violence Prevention Subcommittee as many of their objectives are closely
related. Similar to the Family Engagement and Violence Prevention Subcommittee, the Reentry and
Workforce Development Subcommittee is a hybrid of the Long Beach Gang Reduction,
Intervention, and Prevention (Long Beach CalGRIP) Advisory Council and the Weed and Seed
Collaborative partner organizations. With the same target area, similar goals and objectives, and
shared partner organizations, these collaboratives decided to merge into one subcommittee to
spearhead reentry and workforce development efforts in the target community. Please see below
for a chart of the Reentry and Workforce Development Subcommittee’s accomplishments to date.
<;?5*88.''$$!C$8?$#%+!
-G!6$7'R!*0!-*##$5'.*&%!4&(!
!!!!!Q$,4?.:.'4'.*&!!!!
-$&'$#!0*#!>*#_.&2!U48.:.$%!
-$&'#*!-9GB!Z&5R!
-.'/!*0!1*&2!3$45,!
!!!!H$.2,?*#,**(!<$#=.5$!3;#$4;!!
-*88;&.'/!Q$%.($&'%!
6$7'R!*0!9$4:',!4&(!9;84&!<$#=.5$%!
!!!Q*:$!*0!C$&!"#*2#48!
6$74#'8$&'!*0!";?:.5!<*5.4:!<$#=.5$%!
^**(c.::!*0!<*;',$#&!1*%!
!!!!!G&2$:$%!-*;&'/!S<L1G-V!!
1*%!G&2$:$%!-*;&'/!"#*?4'.*&!
"#*=.($(!?/!6$7'R!*0!
!!!!6$74#'8$&'! ! ";?:.5!<$#=.5$%d!
1*&2!3$45,!-.'/!-*::$2$! 4=4.:4?:$!4'!-$&'$#!
1*&2!3$45,!-.'/!"#*%$5;'*#a%!L00.5$! 0*#!>*#_.&2!U48.:.$%!
1*&2!3$45,!1$24:!G.(!U*;&(4'.*&!
1*&2!3$45,!"*:.5$!6$7'R!
"$45$"4#'&$#%B!Z&5!
!

Statistical data provided by city agencies and nonprofits in the Collaborative shows that
educational, social and economic/life skills training and career preparation for youth, adults and the
reentry population are being implemented in the target community to meet the goals and objectives
stated in the Long Beach Weed and Seed Grant. Please see the full-length report for details.

Examples of successful coordination and collaboration by the Reentry and Workforce Development
Subcommittee during Year Three of the Long Beach Weed and Seed strategy include:
• Partnerships with organizations who serve the reentry population, the faith-based community,
and employers to inform the development of the Subcommittee’s Comprehensive Reentry
Services Plan.

! II!

!

• Partnership with the University of Southern California to engage a graduate level intern who
provided staff support to the Subcommittee as well as linkage to academia to inform the
development and implementation of Subcommittee efforts.

The Reentry and Workforce Development Subcommittee’s successful efforts to coordinate and
collaborate with various organizations in the target community contributed to the leveraging of
resources to assist in the development of its Comprehensive Reentry Service Plan. The Reentry and
Workforce Development Subcommittee was able to leverage partnerships and staff support from its
graduate intern to apply for the Reentry Employment Initiative Technical Services Grant from the
U.S. Community Capacity Development Office. The Subcommittee was awarded the grant in
March 2010 to assist with development of the Comprehensive Reentry Services Plan.

• Engage the community through the annual Community-wide Expungement/Sealing Education
Workshop and monthly expungement workshops.
• As the Comprehensive Reentry Services Plan is completed, a point person will be designated to
engage the reentry population in the Plan, so that they can be connected to services that aid in a
seamless transition back into society.

• Develop strategies to accomplish the stated goals and objectives for reentry and workforce
development in the Long Beach Weed and Seed Strategic Plan for Year Four.
• Continue to strengthen relationships with current partners and build new partnerships with
organizations that serve the reentry population, the faith-based community, and potential
employers.
• Completion of the Comprehensive Reentry Services Plan is a major sustainability effort that
will provide a framework for drafting policy on how reentry employment issues can be
addressed in the target area and citywide.
• Continue to provide the Community Forum on Juvenile Petitions, Expungement and
Certificates of Rehabilitation and monthly Expungement Workshops, as these are two services
under the Reentry Services Plan that are not readily available elsewhere and provide a valuable
and sustainable resource for the reentry population in Long Beach.
• Continue to facilitate focus groups to inform the creation of the Comprehensive Reentry
Services Plan. Key constituents to participate in the focus groups include: male/female parolees
and probationers, employers, and faith-based organizations.

! IJ!

!

NEIGHBORHOOD RESTORATION SUBCOMMITTEE:
The Neighborhood Restoration Subcommittee serves to fulfill grant objectives listed under the
Neighborhood Restoration component of the Weed and Seed Strategy. Through coordinated use of
federal, state, local, and private-sector resources, neighborhood restoration strategies focus on
economic development, employment opportunities for residents, and improvements to the housing
stock and physical environment of the neighborhood. Please see below for a chart of the
Neighborhood Restoration Subcommittee and its accomplishments to date.

<;?5*88.''$$!C$8?$#%+!
-$&'#4:!H$.2,?*#,**(!G(=.%*#/!-*;&5.:!S-HG-V!
-*88;&.'/!Q$%.($&'%!
1*&2!3$45,!`&.0.$(!<5,**:!6.%'#.5'!
U4.',N34%$(!-*::4?*#4'.=$!
H$.2,?*#,**(!G(=.%*#/!^#*;7!SHG^V!
H$c!^$&$#4'.*&%!
!

Code Enforcement and Nuisance Sites:
Statistics provided by the Code Enforcement Department show that code enforcement violations in
the target zip codes 90813 and 90806 have increased significantly over the past two Weed and
Seed fiscal years (from 2,306 in Year Two to 4,291 in Year Three, an increase of 86.1%).
Similarly, statistics provided by the City of Long Beach Neighborhood Nuisance Abatement
Program show that nuisance sites in the target zip codes 90813 and 90806 have increased
significantly since last fiscal year (from remaining at 11 nuisance sites Years One and Two, and
increasing to 23 nuisance sites during Year Three of Strategy implementation). These outcomes
may be the result of successful neighborhood restoration efforts to educate the target community
about calling the code enforcement and nuisance abatement hotlines to report violations. By Year
Four of strategy implementation code enforcement and nuisance violations should begin to
decrease as residents learn about such violations and take greater pride in the ascetics of their
neighborhood.

! IX!

!

Graffiti:
Separate from the full-year data available through the LBPD for graffiti incidents in Police Beats 4
& 5, the Long Beach Department of Community Development is able to report graffiti incidents
based on the Weed and Seed Grant’s fiscal year. This data shows a net reduction in graffiti
incidents of -48.1% since Weed and Seed Strategy implementation in October of 2007, with Year
Three experiencing the greatest decrease over the three-year span of -32.7%. Therefore, both law
enforcement and community data confirm that graffiti incidents have decreased in the target area
since initiation of the Weed and Seed Strategy.

Collaboration and Coordination:
Examples of successful coordination and collaboration by the Neighborhood Restoration
Subcommittee and its Peace Garden Committee during Year Three of the Long Beach Weed and
Seed strategy include:
• Strong partnerships with city agencies and local business to leverage resources and establish
the Peace Garden.
• Partnerships with city agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the Faith-based Collaborative to
plan and implement community empowerment events.
• Partnership with the California State University Dominguez Hills to engage a graduate level
intern who provided staff support to the Neighborhood Restoration Subcommittee and Peace
Garden Committee as well as linkage to academia to inform the development and
implementation of Subcommittee efforts.

The Neighborhood Restoration Subcommittee and Peace Garden Committees’ successful efforts to
coordinate and collaborate with various organizations in the target community contributed to the
leveraging of resources to support neighborhood restoration projects. Partnerships with local city
agencies assisted the Peace Garden Committee in leveraging resources to establish the Peace
Garden, including partnership with the City of Long Beach Redevelopment Agency to legally
establish the Garden, the City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation, and Marine to
provide land and insurance, and the Department of Health and Human Services to pay the water
utility bill for the Garden. Partnerships with local businesses such as The Green Plummer and
Home Depot provided the labor, expertise, tools and building materials need to create the Garden.
Lastly, grants written to community organizations, such as the Neighborhood Partners Program
(NPP) and Pacific Gateway Workforce Development Network (Long Beach CalGRIP Youth
Beautification Grant), helped the Peace Garden Committee leverage additional funds. The total
amount of funds leveraged by the Peace Garden, in business/organization donations, matching
funds, volunteer/donated labor, and monetary contributions, is reported at $57,561.

• Neighborhood empowerment cleanups have engaged youth and adults in Weed and Seed
efforts since the beginning of strategy implementation.

! IE!

!

• Youth Beautification Grants awarded by Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network have
provided youth with job opportunities over the last two of summers to engage in neighborhood
restoration activities.
• Nuisance and graffiti reporting information provided to residents during clean-ups encourage
them to take ownership over the ascetics of their community and empower them with the tools
needed to effectively do so.
• Plans to develop a Neighborhood Restoration Block Captain Plan will encourage greater
resident participation and leadership in the target community.
• The Peace Garden will allow residents of all generations and ethnicities to work side by side
and develop greater understanding of one another through collaboration and recognition of a
common purpose. It will also serve as a gathering place for future community empowerment
events.

• Develop strategies to accomplish the stated goals and objectives for neighborhood restoration
activities in the Long Beach Weed and Seed Strategic Plan for Year Four.
• Encourage greater resident participation and leadership in the target community through a
Neighborhood Restoration Block Captain Plan that includes electing block captains to be the
point person in their neighborhood that schedules clean-ups and informs residents on how to
keep their neighborhood clean. As part of this vision, the block captains would become active
members on the Neighborhood Restoration Subcommittee and continue to meet after Long
Beach Weed and Seed funding concludes.
• Recruit and increase participation by community organizations and residents to plan and
support community empowerment events.
• Complete the Peace Garden Policy and work out any kinks before presenting it as a model for
community gardening in the City of Long Beach.
• Acquire a fiscal agent to establish the Peace Garden as a stand-alone entity not dependent on
continuous support from Long Beach Weed and Seed.

! IF!

!

CONCLUSION AND GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Long Beach Weed and Seed Strategy’s mission, as defined by the U.S. Department of Justice,
is to “prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity” in the target area.
Indeed, statistical data provided by law enforcement shows that narcotic, violent crime, nighttime
loitering, and graffiti crime statistics have been reduced in the target area (Police Beats 4 and 5)
since strategy implementation in October of 2007. Gang arrests in the City of Long Beach have
increased since Strategy implementation; however, target-area specific data is unavailable and thus
it is difficult to determine the extent that this is due to targeted law enforcement efforts as part of
the Weed and Seed Strategy in Central Long Beach.

As the Long Beach Weed and Seed Strategy moves into its fourth year of implementation, the
following recommendations are made to ensure the continued success and sustainability of Weed
and Seed efforts:
• All Long Beach Weed and Seed Subcommittees and the Steering Committee should carefully
review and utilize the publication “Developing a Sustainability Plan” by the Community
Capacity Development Office to address each dimension of sustainability (Structural Effort,
Community Impact, and Resource Development) and their indicators in planning interventions
over the next two years.
• Align Long Beach Weed and Seed Subcommittee prevention and intervention efforts with the
California Endowment Building Healthy Communities Initiative target outcomes to provide the
opportunity for sustainable funding and support over the next ten years.
• Data found in this evaluation may be used to leverage funding for each Long Beach Weed and
Seed partner organization serving the target community.
• Partnerships with the California State University and University of California institutions of
higher education can provide valuable technical support to the Long Beach Weed and Seed
Collaborative, including its subcommittees and individual organizations. It is recommended
that undergraduate and graduate students be utilized to strengthen and sustain interventions in
the target community. The Weed and Seed Site Director is a useful resource to guide the
establishment of student intern support for city and nonprofit agencies in the Collaborative.
• Develop strategies for increasing the participation of residents, the business community, and
the faith-based community on the Long Beach Weed and Seed Steering and Subcommittees.
Residents should be trained to take leadership positions within the Subcommittees to ensure
long-term sustainability of Weed and Seed efforts. Collaboration with businesses and the faith-
based community should be strengthened to foster an understanding and long-term support of
Long Beach Weed and Seed efforts.
• The Long Beach Weed and Seed Steering Committee should develop a strategic plan for
enhanced integration of MacArthur Park and McBride Park Safe Havens into the Weed and
Seed Strategy, including the extension of youth leadership and parent empowerment activities
presently available at Martin Luther King Jr. Park to residents who utilize MacArthur and
McBride Parks.
• Continue to expand community-policing efforts. Educate social service organizations serving
the target community about community-policing efforts and the benefits of encouraging
participation by the police department in their educational and community empowerment
activities.

! I!

Executive Summary Year Three (FY 2009-2010) Progress and Outcomes Weed and Seed Community: Long Beach Police Beats 4 and 5

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (8)

More from L_Hollie

More from L_Hollie (9)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Executive Summary Year Three (FY 2009-2010) Progress and Outcomes Weed and Seed Community: Long Beach Police Beats 4 and 5