Pubdate: Tue, 06 Dec 2005 Source: Statesman Journal (Salem, OR) Copyright: 2005 Statesman Journal Contact: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/427 Author: Cara Roberts Murez Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) 'NO METH' GROUP TARGETS SOUTHEAST SALEM Results Of A Recent Survey Lead To Ideas For Improvements Bill Mathis has lived in the Southeast Salem Neighborhood Association area for 33 years. His small, white, vintage home has been burglarized only once, about 30 years ago. Mathis said he knows how lucky he is as he pointed out a house down the street that has been hit 15 to 20 times and another that was broken into four or five times. SESNA's reputation has spurred No Meth -- Not in My Neighborhood efforts to improve this area of 2,639 households. The grass-roots group wants to work with community organizations to start an afterschool peer-mentoring program for youths or expand a similar South Salem High School program. Members also want to expand on a Neighborhood Watch program in that area to stem the property crime that often is a byproduct of the meth problem. "What I am hoping is that the neighbors will realize the strengths that they have in the neighborhood," said Page Merrill, a program specialist for No Meth, "and unite to make their places better and safer places to live." In September, volunteers surveyed 150 SESNA households about methamphetamine as the first step toward getting residents involved in helping themselves. Based on survey results and other research, No Meth came up with the two ideas for improvement that staff members and volunteers are working on now."Anything's better than nothing," said Mathis, 58. "I think both those things, getting on people's cases, keeping your eyes open." Although Mathis no longer is involved in Neighborhood Watch, he keeps his eyes on people who walk up the street outside his house. He thinks he can spot meth users based on their thinness and deteriorated appearance. Continuous action by police also would make a difference in the neighborhood's safety, Mathis said. Although SESNA's reputation has not caught up, data suggest that the neighborhood has made strides in improving itself, even without No Meth's help. Analysis of half-year crime stats in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 showed as much as double-digit decreases in crime rates in SESNA. In 2002 and 2003, crime jumped back up by 18.4 percent and 34 percent, respectively, but rates dropped again in 2004. Through September 2005, crime has dropped 20.8 percent. The early decreases were attributed to increased community policing and a Neighborhood Response Effort that got residents involved in efforts to deter crime. The increases likely happened as methamphetamine became a more serious problem in Salem, said Rob Gould, the president of the neighborhood association. Gould said that the recent decreases happened as No Meth began getting the word out, Salem police increased its anti-meth efforts and Marion County commissioners designated jail beds for property-crime offenders. "I think the price we pay for meth is the constant vigilance we do," said Gould, who has lived in the SESNA area for 20 years. In the recent No Meth survey, at least 42 percent of responders said that more education for neighbors and youths, availability of treatment, prevention efforts, park patrols, police officers and neighborhood watch involvement were definitely needed. Linda Louise Doerfler, 52, who has lived in her parents' Richmond Avenue house off and on for 45 years, is involved in Neighborhood Watch and said she would welcome increased efforts. Although two houses across the street once appeared to be drug houses, she said, those residents are gone now and the immediate neighborhood seems safe. "We have a strong Neighborhood Watch on Richmond Avenue, and we work at it constantly," Doerfler said. "We monitor everyone that's walking down the street." More than half of the people surveyed had been affected by meth or related crimes. About 29 percent had talked to neighbors about the problem, 26 percent called police, 16 percent reported garbage on neighbors' property and 14 percent reported a suspected drug house. About one-third said they had done nothing to respond to the problem. Six percent said they had avoided the problem or kept to themselves. "I think if the crime rate gets to the point that they become victims," Doerfler said, "then they'll get involved." [Sidebar] No Meth -- Not in My Neighborhood says it doesn't plan to stop with its efforts to improve the Southeast Salem Neighborhood Association area. Members of the grass-roots group plan to continue the focus on helping neighborhoods reduce meth problems by surveying and working in other areas. The next two likely areas are in West Salem and Keizer. The surveys are not scientific. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth