SITE OVERVIEW ♦ ERIE | PENNSYLVANIA
Target Area: Little Italy • Population: 11,000
Fiscal Agent: The City of Erie
Research Partner: Mercyhurst University Civic Institute
Crime Concerns: Violent crimes and property crimes
BCJI Funding Year: 2013 Planning & Enhancement
Neighborhood Profile
The Little Italy neighborhood is culturally diverse and rich in history, with a large Bhutanese American population and many residents hailing from Puerto Rico. However the neighborhood struggles with housing decay with a foreclosure rate of over 10 percent and a population decline of 11 percent since the 2000 census. In addition, the target area is faced with overcrowding, poverty, unemployment, lack of educational attainment, and high rates of crime. While the target area only constitutes under two percent of the geographic area of the city, it has witnessed 20 percent of homicides, 14 percent of arsons, and 10 percent of rape incidents in 2012.
Planning Process
The planning process for the Erie BCJI project began with a steering committee comprised of the Erie City Police Department, the District Attorney’s office, Mercyhurst University, the City of Erie, and other various members of the community including service providers and community members. As the process moved forward, a greater emphasis was placed on addressing blight and problem properties which prompted the committee to expand to include Erie City Code Enforcement. This steering committee reviewed existing community plans and collected additional data, ultimately confirming two hot spots in the target area comprising both commercial and residential properties. Surveys and focus groups conducted in multiple languages yielded findings that many crimes go unreported, particularly drug-related offenses, despite the fact that crime is a major concern for residents. While steering committee members expected to discover that residents distrust law enforcement, but surveys and focus groups did not support this finding. Instead, residents reported a desire for greater police presence, and a sense of frustration that few people in the community want to make a positive difference.
Implementation Strategies
Starting in 2016, the Erie BCJI began implementation of strategies falling within three domains:
- Law enforcement strategies including foot and bike patrols operating out of a mobile precinct, which expand on existing policing strategies as part of a countywide violence reduction initiative.
- Problem property abatement organized by a multi-agency task force, and including components to support resident ownership and management of vacant lots
- Community engagement including efforts to involve residents in events, beautification projects and Neighborhood Watch.
- Youth programs, particularly those targeted older youth in need of work readiness and other recreational/educational support.
All of the above activiites are delivered with a particular focus around identified hot spots, and with care taken to educate and involve residents. Among many community events, a notable one is the annual Community Forum held in order to generate more community participation and to remain transparent in the neighborhood’s overall revitalization efforts.
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