Pubdate: Sun, 22 May 2005 Source: Trentonian, The (NJ) Copyright: 2005 The Trentonian Contact: http://www.trentonian.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1006 Author: Pete Daly Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) FRIGHTENED RESIDENTS FEEL SAFE FOR A DAY TRENTON -- In an effort to reclaim streets from drug dealers and gangs, residents flooded a hardscrabble West Ward neighborhood yesterday on the second day of an anti-violence "campout." At the corner of Stuyvesant Avenue and Hoffman Street, face-painters replaced graffiti artists and children played on sidewalks usually stalked by street urchins. The outpouring of community support was part of a weekend takeover of the intersection by community activists, religious leaders, and city officials who arrived Friday evening and didn't leave until this morning. "The response is overwhelming. People are overcoming the most difficult challenge and that is fear," said event organizer Emmanuel Avraham, president of The Life Skills Academy, Inc. Police barricades cordoned off several blocks of Stuyvesant Avenue for the event, allowing residents to spend the day on a street so crime-ravaged many said they have given up on it. "Most times I don't even go on Stuyvesant. I avoid it," said Gail Morgan, whose young daughter, Queen, tottered at her feet. "If we could do this more often, maybe there wouldn't be so many drug dealers out here, standing in front of all the stores." City officials and religious leaders yesterday said the goal of the campout was to spur parental involvement and attempt to bring more youth into city-sponsored programs. Mayor Doug Palmer said many children had signed up for Trenton's SCOOP, a Department of Recreation, Natural Resources and Culture weekend program that features numerous activities at nine centers in the city. "There's only so much the police department and the city can do for our kids," said Palmer, who slept in a recreational vehicle at the campout Friday night. "We don't want police taking the place of parents. We want to reclaim our youth through our communities who have to rise up to meet the challenge." Even in the midst of the street fair atmosphere, it was apparent not everyone was being reached. Several groups of teens -- at least a few who flashed gang signs -- huddled on nearby corners, seemingly confused at the loss of their turf. Palmer said Trenton police will continue to maintain a visible presence at the intersection throughout the summer. No incidents were reported at the campout as of last night, according to police. Also, a plan to have posts where individuals could turn in guns and drug paraphernalia anonymously was scrapped when it was deemed too dangerous with the number of people in the street, Avraham said. Danielle Kinsey, whose grandson was shot and killed in gang-related violence, said it was time for adults to take responsibility for their "lost" children. "My generation has failed our children," Kinsey said. "A lot of these kids are lost. You can't be their buddy or their 'homey' because then you can't raise them. This is a battle. Anyone who is not here with us today is part of the problem." West Ward city councilwoman Annette Lartigue acknowledged while the campout was a success, it isn't a panacea for violence and gang problems. "Without parental involvement we will continue to see a deterioration among our youth," she said. "There's no way around it." Minister Mustapha Muhammed drove to the campout from Plainfield, a North Jersey city he said faced similar issues. "Consistency is the key. If those charged with teaching our youth don't stay on top of it, these wretched conditions will not end," Muhammed said. But some parents said they can't reclaim their neighborhoods without help. "I hardly come out. Since it's safe today, I came out," said Tanisha Roberson, 31, who brought her 3-year-old son, Nathaniel, and 2-year-old daughter, Natalie, to get their faces painted. "But usually there are just too many people standing around making too much noise." Akili Brown, a lifelong Trenton resident, said if West Ward residents don't maintain the example of the campout, drug abuse and violence will continue to mire the area. "Too many kids are losing their lives out here. We've got to show them another way," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth