On 01/17/09, a French Quarter resident was senselessly murdered on the block where I live in the French Quarter. While sitting on my stoop of my home that evening, watching the emergency and police response, I felt helpless. I was about two minutes away from leaving my home to go to see Sonny Landreth at the Rock ‘n’ Bowl; my car was parked within 20 feet of where Wendy was shot. It could have just as easily been me.
Later that evening, I called my best friend in Seattle (he’s also my ex-husband and a former New Orleanian). He listened to my fears and gently reminded me that I’m made of stronger stuff.
Five days later, a woman I’d never met face-to-face before and I hosted our first neighborhood Citizens Against Crime meeting. This first meeting of “just plain folks” attracted the attention of two New Orleans City Council members and the newly-elected District Attorney.
One week after that, we had our second meeting – again attended by the City Council members, the Commander of our police district and the NOPD Chief of Police. Our group of average folks is making a difference because we’re simply concerned citizens – we don’t have a charter, we don’t charge dues and we don’t hold pot-luck dinners to chat about “the crime problem.” The fact that we’re not part of the formal landscape is what seems to have caught the attention of our elected officials and police force; it has been nothing short of astonishing.
At our third meeting (yesterday), we started the process of organizing a 30 square block area into Neighborhood Watch groups. It’s an ambitious effort, but I believe that we’ll work together to make it real.
I’ve also started a Google Group that has 130 members in three weeks’ time; we use it to distribute information about meetings/events and information about general interest to give our neighbors every opportunity to get involved in improving the safety of our community.
Additionally, I have taken on reporting the damaged/unlit streetlights in the French Quarter and the Farbourg Marigny Triangle. On 01/23/09, there were 104 lights documented as needing service. On 02/11/09 I accompanied an NOPD Officer and updated the list—we’re down to 59 lights requiring repair. Tomorrow evening we’re surveying the Marigny Triangle.
I’ve also been working with Wendy’s close friends to ensure that people are in attendance at every court hearing/date to represent Wendy. She cannot speak for herself, and her family resides in California—we are working together to show the court that we are Wendy’s presence.
My next effort (after Mardi Gras has passed) will be to get light bulbs donated for distribution to homeowners and residents.
I was looking for an opportunity to connect more deeply with my community; I know that my efforts and those of my neighbors are making a difference.
