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.
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