R2008-10 AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SYSTEMS

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•- } � .q i � �� x�ri�t�l�t� �a� � �.t��t��e � United St�tes Attorney Rodger A. Heaton Central District of Illinois FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SHARON PAUL THURSDAY,NOVEMBER 1, 2007 PHONE: (217)492-4450 www.usdoi.�ov/usao/ilc/ DECATUR TO IMPLEMENT DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WEED&SEED PROGRAM First Year s Funding$175,000;Eligible for$1 Million over S Years Decatur,Ill.—Residents of Decatur's near north community joined representatives of law enforcement, social service,faith organizations and local business to announce that Decatur has been selected by the Department of Justice as a"Weed& Seed"site,and is beginning implementation of this comprehensive effort. U.S.Attorney Rodger A. Heaton, Central District of Illinois,joined Decatur Police Chief Jim Anderson,Macon County State's Attamey Jack Ahola,Richland Community College President Dr. Gayle Saunders and Sue Niesslie,President of the Coalition of Neighborhood Organizations,to make the announcement. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice,the Weed&Seed program is designed to assist communities struggling with persistent high levels of serious violent crime and corresponding social problems. The Weed and Seed partnership requires the community's residents to work with civic leaders,business owners, churches,schools and service programs as a steering committee to design a comprehensive plan to reduce crime and improve the quality of life. Though some funding is availabte,the program relies primarily on redeployment of existing public and private resources to the designated area. The boundaries for Decatur's Near North Side program are Eldorado Street on the south; Illinois Central Gulf Raikoad an the east;McKinley Street on the north;and Illinois Route 48 an the west. Selection by the Departnaent of Justice as a Weed&Seed Community malces a site eligible for incremental funding of up to$1 million over five years: first year-$175,000;second year-$250,000;third year-$2'75,000; fourth year-$200,000; and year five$l 0U,000. For federal fiscal year 2007,the Department of Justice designated 38 new sites,including Decatur,bringing the total number of active Weed&Seed communities to more than 350 across the country. In 2007,approximately 250 sites initially applied for the designation; 152 sites, including Decatur,were approved to proceed with application for the designatian. U.S.Attomey Heaton stated,"While we take time to acknowledge and appreciate the . cooperative efforts of these community partners over the past several years to achieve this milestone,we now begin the work to implement the plan. Under the law enforcement strategy, the U.S.Attomey's Office and federal law enforcement have been working cooperatively with the Decatur Police Department and the Macon County State's Attorney's Office to target violent offenders and reduce gun violence through Project Safe Neighborhoods." (More)