July 30, 2007

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders has announced that as part of a collaborative effort spearheaded by Fire Chief Tracy Jarman and Superintendent of San Diego Unified School District Carl Cohn, the Center for Public Safety—an innovative partnership that brings together academics and public safety—will open on the campus of the new Lincoln High School in September. This marks the culmination of an effort that began in 2004 with the cooperation of the San Diego Unified School District, San Diego Community College District and San Diego city council members Tony Young and Brian Maienschein, and School Board Vice President Sheila Jackson. The Center for Public Safety will eventually have a student body of approximately 450 students in grades 10 through 12.

Through the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, students at the Center for Public Safety will have mentors and the opportunity for job shadowing, internships and ride alongs.

The Center for Public Safety will hold the same high standards for students as in any district high school; the curriculum will be designed to meet both the University of California (UC) entrance requirements and the entry-level requirements for the various public safety careers. Students will have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and community college credits upon graduation. The San Diego Unified School District, with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is funding a subject-matter expert from the Fire-Rescue Department to assist with curriculum development. Student achievement at the Center for Public Safety will be measured by assessments, which are already in place such as California High School Exit Examination results and standardized norm-referenced and standards-based test scores. Additional assessments include parent and community feedback as well as follow-up studies of graduates.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley urged Chicagoans to give up their guns in exchange for a $100 prepaid MasterCard, July 21, at CAPS’ third Gun Turn-In event at 23 locations across the city.

“Guns are involved in 80 percent of all homicides in Chicago and in the vast majority of armed robberies,” Daley said at a news conference at. “Simple quarrels can, and often do, escalate into homicides, simply because a gun was available. Fewer guns on the streets mean fewer deaths and crippling injuries; fewer armed robberies and assaults,” he said.

The Gun Turn-In is a partnership between the Chicago Police Department’s CAPS Implementation Office and local faith-based leaders.

Buffalo (NY) Mayor Byron W. Brown announced the Mayor’s Division of Citizen Services is accepting applications for funding through the Mayor’s Livable Communities Grant Program. The Program is funded through the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency (BURA) and the Citizen’s Bank Foundation.

“This program is designed to help our block clubs and community organizations,” said Brown. “Any group who wants to apply for funding must show us that they are serious about improving their neighborhood with projects such as planting a community garden, organizing a clean up, or painting a mural. There are several projects groups can take on to make their neighborhoods a better place to live, and I am pleased the city can be a part of the continued transformation.”

Any Block Club or Civic/Citizens association located in a low to moderate income area in Buffalo are eligible for funding, however, priority will be given to grassroots Community-Based Organizations (CBO) or Block Clubs whose mission is related to improving the city’s neighborhoods.

Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street joined a large crowd of community-based leaders at city hall to unveil a new summer anti-violence campaign aimed at reaching young people in neighborhood settings with non-traditional messages intended to reduce and prevent violence.

The new non-traditional campaign, “PUT IT DOWN,” was designed by a group of music and entertainment industry promoters who approached Street Administration officials and offered their time, energy and ideas to design an initiative intended to reach youths in neighborhood settings with messages that youths may be willing to hear.

The PUT IT DOWN campaign is being supported by media organizations as well, including Clear Channel Entertainment and Radio One, which plan to air anti-violence messages and public service announcements throughout the Summer months. Other supporters include anti-violence organizations such as Men United for a Better Philadelphia, Mothers in Charge, the Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network, among other groups. Faith-based leaders are also supportive members of this coalition.

New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg spoke before the National Urban Leagues’ Annual Conference in St. Louis July 25, the nation’s most prestigious black leadership conference. In a half-hour speech, Bloomberg urged national leaders to follow the method he used to improve New York City’s public schools, like increasing teaching salaries, issuing grades for schools and setting up a corporate'style system of accountability.

The Urban League President and CEO is former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, a past President of the Conference of Mayors.

Four Democratic candidates for President were scheduled to address the Conference, as U.S. Mayor went to press; Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, former Senator John Edwards and Representative Dennis Kucinich (OH), former mayor of Cleveland.

Also on July 27, Conference President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer was scheduled to address those attending the annual meeting.