Title
a. Approve a request to use unexpended Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated to the Health Department in the amount of $879,250 to enhance Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) efforts in Salinas and Greenfield from March 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024; and
b. Approve the request for the implementation of CPTED in two additional Salinas schools and one location in Greenfield such as Greenfield High School, along with the surrounding neighborhoods.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve a request to use unexpended Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated to the Health Department in the amount of $879,250 to enhance Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) efforts in Salinas and Greenfield from March 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024; and
b. Approve the request for the implementation of CPTED in two additional Salinas schools and one location in Greenfield such as Greenfield High School, along with the surrounding neighborhoods.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Health Department, City of Salinas Community Safety Division, the CAO's Office of Community Engagement and Strategic Advocacy, as well as members of the Community Alliance of Safety and Peace (CASP) began a partnership thirteen years ago to reduce and prevent violence in Salinas. This partnership has been successful in its contribution to significant declines in violent crime. Changes in the trend of violent crime that suggest the importance of ongoing support include:
* Pre-pandemic, the rate of violent assaults per 1,000 youth in Salinas had declined by 57% since 2009.
* Pre-pandemic, the violent crime rate per 100,000 residents had declined by 36% in both Salinas and the County at large, since 2009.
* The number of homicides in Salinas had dramatically declined from a high of 40 in 2015 to a low of eight homicides in 2020.
* During the pandemic, in 2020, violent ...
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