The City of East Point sought and was awarded an official designation as a Weed and Seed site in February 1998.  Two target areas were identified as the focus of the Weed and Seed strategy – East Washington and the Central District.  Operation Weed and Seed, City of East Point continues to actively seek opportunities to collaborate with all City of East Point departments, local businesses, community organizations and social service agencies throughout the city.  It includes more than thirty-five (35) City of East Point Departments, federal agencies, nonprofit and neighborhood organizations.  These collaborations include, but are not limited to:  the U.S. District Attorney’s Office Northern Georgia, East Point Community Service Department, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, East Point Housing Authority, Fulton County District Attorney’s Office and many other agencies in the area.  

The site’s collaborative efforts involves participating with various partners on several projects which helps accomplish the goals of each of the four components (LAW ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNITY POLICING, PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD RESTORATION) of our Weed and Seed strategy.

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TARGET AREA #1 EAST WASHINGTON

q       East from intersection of Main Street and Irene Kidd Parkway.  East on Irene Kidd Parkway to Cleveland Avenue.  East on Cleveland Avenue to the eastern city limits congruent with the City of Atlanta.  South along the eastern city limits to the southern most point.  West along the southern city limits to western most point congruent with the City of College Park.  Northwest along the northwestern city limits to Main Street.  North on Main Street to the intersection of Main and Irene Kidd Parkway. 

TARGET AREA #2 CENTRAL DISTRICT

q       South on Main Street from the intersection of Main Street and Washington Road to Vesta Avenue.  West along the southern city limit of the City of East Point to Washington Road.  Northeast on Washington Road to Semmes Street.  North on Semmes Street to Norman Berry Drive.  Northwest on Norman Berry Drive to Headland Drive.  Northwest on Headland Drive to Delowe Drive.  Delowe Drive to the northern city limit of the City of East Point. East along the northern city limit of the City of East Point to Main Street.  South on Main Street to the intersection of Main Street and Washington Road.

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The Law Enforcement strategy is to suppress and significantly reduce crime in target areas through traditional policing strategies and crime reduction, activity conducted by Special Operations and Strike Force.  This done through the innovative use of All Terrain Vehicle’s (ATV’s), the Strike Force aggressively works to suppress drug activity in target areas and to develop solid cases for prosecution prosecution.  The strike force works collaborative with other law enforcement agencies in their drug interdiction efforts. Objectives of this strategy are to:

1)        Significantly reduce open-air drug markets and eliminate crack houses.

2)        Reduce recidivism of drug arrests, violent crime and gang activity.

3)        Reduce criminal activity associated with drug activity.

4)        Reduce the resident’s fear of crime.

5)        Remove violent offenders and reduce domestic violence.

6)        Provide effective prosecution and expeditious adjudication of offenders. 

The Community Policing strategy is to bridge the gab between police, citizens, businesses and other stakeholders in the target communities.  The Community Policing strategy objectives are: 

1)      Address specific needs associated  with the elderly and Hispanic populations through targeted, innovative approaches.

2)    Continue to provide schools, residential neighborhoods and the business community information on crime prevention.

3)    Community Policing, will continue to support an initiative that requires everyone’s involvement, from resident to youth when trying to improve the quality of his or her community.

4)    Will address recurring crime problems through problem-solving techniques.    

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Click on the picture for the full size view.

 

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PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT

The Prevention, Intervention and Treatment strategy is to address and identified risk factors in the target areas, by providing services and programs focused on the prevention, intervention and treatment of at risk residents.  Our prevention, intervention, and treatment consist of human service organizations, neighborhood associations, and residents of the Weed and Seed target area.  Due to the collaboration of these agencies, we are able to provide our community residents with quality community-based prevention and early intervention programs such as:  

¨       Professional development (through participation and leadership in various activities)

¨       Computer training

¨       Intervention counseling programs

¨       GED programs

¨       Dance instruction and performance opportunities

¨       Summer programs and activities

¨       After-school program

¨       Employment and Career Training

¨       Athletic activities

¨       Empowerment Seminars and Workshops

¨       Career Coaching

¨       Nutrition Workshops

¨       Financial Empowerment classes

¨       Family Life Enrichment programs

¨       Self-esteem Building  

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Operation Weed and Seed

Prevention, Intervention and Treatment Agencies

 

 

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Our Neighborhood restoration strategy continued to leverage various public and private resources to make both human and physical improvements in the two target areas.  Our strategy is closely tied to the overall economic development goals of the City of East Point.  Nearly half of the city’s total economic development projects for this period were either physically located within the Weed and Seed target areas or will have a direct impact on target area residents.  With the City Manager and Economic Development Director providing leadership, several projects/plans were initiated, which provided additional investments and enhanced our restoration efforts in the areas of aesthetics/infrastructure improvements, employment opportunities, new housing, and mixed-use development (housing and commercial). 

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Projects in the making

 

• James L. Jackson Community Bridge – A $1.9 million pedestrian bridge now connects the MARTA  station to Main Street, while reconnecting the east and west sides of the downtown.  The bridge is designed in a turn-of-the century style that complements the architecture of downtown East Point.

Day Building – Located at the corner of Main St. and W. Cleveland Ave., directly across from the Pedestrian Bridge.  This historic structure has been completely renovated and is currently being leased with 7,400 sq. ft. of retail on the ground floor and four loft condos.

Old “Elks Club” Building – This historic landmark is located at 1596 W. Cleveland, just a few doors down from the Day Building and across from City Hall.  The Structure is being renovated to include 12 loft condominiums and ground floor commercial.  Timeline 2003.

Back Street Loft – This development project is located on White Way, between Main Street and East Point Street is mixed use, with 9,200 sq. ft.  It offers office/retail on the first floor and four loft condominiums on the second floor.  A restaurant is now open and expanding; other business will open in the near future.

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STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The Steering Committee for Operation Weed and Seed provides direct oversight in developing, implementing and maintaining the programs goals and objectives.  The Steering Committee meetings are scheduled every other month, on the 3^rd Thursdays at 4:00p.m.  Meetings are held in the Law Enforcement Center or the East Point Municipal Court Room.  If a change in the date, time or location is necessary, you will be notified.  (Note:  Meetings are not scheduled for the months of July and December).

 

*Action Without Meetings:  Any action required to be approved by the Steering Committee, may be approved without a meeting if a written ballot is submitted to the members, stating the actions to be taken.  The action and/or actions may then be approved either by fax or via-email with a (2/3) vote of all Steering Committee members.  (Article VI, Section 4 – Bylaws of Operation Weed and Seed).

 

 

 

 

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