Addressing public safety in South Philadelphia takes an all-hands-on-deck approach

By Jensen Toussaint - September 26th, 2024.

Main market corridor called by the Latine community Calle 9 or 9th Street, in South Philly. Photo: https://istock.com/peeterv

What is Being Done Across the City?

Public safety is deemed one of the city’s most pressing issues, and, according to First District’s City Council Mark Squilla, the Parker Administration has focused heavily on it.

“The goal in City Council, first of all, was putting necessary dollars to make sure that we have enough resources … but also using technology as part of that,” said Squilla. 

Specifically, the City has considered investing in a forensic lab to help address the backlog of data needed to convict people of past crimes and to prevent future ones. 

Technology has also helped address quality-of-life issues by implementing red light and speed cameras throughout the city to help reduce traffic accidents and fatalities.

Squilla added that a sound meter camera system is being piloted to combat loud vehicles roaming the streets.

There is also a big push toward collaboration. 

In July 2024, the City of Philadelphia officially established a new Office of Public Safety. 

“The core mission of the Office of Public Safety (OPS) is to increase the health of our communities through an array of diverse and evidence-based solutions to violence prevention,” Amaury Ávalos, spokesman for the Office of Public Safety, wrote in an email.

The Office of Public Safety works closely with the Philadelphia Police Department and the Managing Director’s Office.

With the latter partnership, OPS absorbed five offices previously housed in MDO: the Office of Safer Neighborhoods, Office of the Victim Advocate, Office of Reentry Partnerships, Office of Criminal Justice, and Town Watch Integrated Services. 

“To that end, our Office invests in community-based violence prevention programs through our Violence Prevention Grants portfolio and engages and informs our community members through outreach like our Town Watch Integrated Services office, our Community Crisis Intervention Program, and our other credible messenger programs,” Ávalos added.

Upon its launch, the Philadelphia Office of Public Safety was awarded grants by the federal government for initiatives relating to community violence intervention, juvenile justice, housing, and debt relief for justice-involved Philadelphians. 

About a year ago, City Councilmembers took a trip to Trenton, New Jersey, to see trends from a nearby city with a similar socioeconomic background to Philadelphia.

Squilla highlighted that Trenton went through a period without a homicide.

After a deeper investigation, it was found that the near-nonexistence of homicides in Trenton was due to a coordinated effort by the city’s public safety office in collaboration with various other offices throughout the city.

This includes the District Attorney’s Office, Parks and Rec, and the Streets Department.

“They all play a role,” said Squilla. 

The Philadelphia Office of Public Safety is led by the city’s Chief Public Safety Director, Adam Geer, who coordinates all public safety issues through all the city’s departments. 

Ávalos highlighted that the Office of Public Safety is also dedicated to being responsive to community needs regarding trauma.

The City aims to address quality of life and public safety through a three-pronged approach: prevention, diversion, and enforcement.

This approach is followed when addressing all facets of public safety, from youth engagement to housing, crime and violence, and more.

“It’s a lot of work, but that coordination and that effort that we saw in Trenton, we’re going to try to duplicate here in Philadelphia so that every department is on the same page on how we’re all going to be able to address the quality of life and public safety issues that we see in the city,” added Squilla. 

The Future of Public Safety in South Philly

While Philadelphia Police Department statistics stated that homicides are down 38% from this time last year, there remains a heightened level of concern surrounding public safety.

It’s something that Squilla finds to be a major issue. 

“If you don’t feel safe in the city of Philadelphia, you’re not going to want to live here,” he said. 

With that notion, many people may decide to leave the city. 

Squilla added that many people didn’t want to return to work when COVID-19 restrictions were lifted because they felt unsafe.

“And the third thing is, if it’s not safe, people won’t want to visit the city, which [brings in] a big economic impact, and a lot of resources get added to our city dollars to people who visit the city of Philadelphia,” he said.

Those in the community must have a way to make their voices heard. 

The Bella Vista Neighborhood Association and other RCOs throughout the South Philly community hold monthly community meetings and social events for that very purpose. 

“No matter where you live in the district, there are at least two meetings a month [where] you can come out and express concerns,” Desyatnik said.

Community members, leaders, elected officials, stakeholders, and more gather to discuss various community issues and concerns and ways to address them.

The Bella Vista Neighborhood Association hosts a town hall on the first Thursday of each month with the same goal.

When addressing public safety, the approach is top-down, all-hands-on-deck, where everyone cooperates to reach a goal.

The issues didn’t happen overnight. Therefore, Squilla noted that the solution also will not happen overnight.

However, he remains hopeful.

“I do see the pendulum swinging back, and so I really hope that within the next six months and beyond, you're going to start seeing this change being even more profound than you see already,” Squilla concluded.

This is the second of a two-part article focused on the perspective of the South Philly Latine immigrant community on public safety. Read the first part here.

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