Weed & Seed area may expand

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

Residents hoping to expand the Weed & Seed law enforcement program from the Kalihi-Palama/Chinatown site east into Kalihi Valley and west into the Ala Moana area will hold their first combined community conversation Jan. 13 at the State Capitol.

In October, the residents submitted a joint proposal to create the expanded Weed & Seed area. A decision on the plan, which was submitted to the U.S. Justice Department in Washington, D.C., is expected in late February or early March, Kanemaru said.

Official designation would bring federal support for fighting crime and tougher penalties for criminals operating in the area, but the effort will continue regardless of the decision, Kanemaru said.

"Whether we get the designation or not, we want to continue the initiative anyway because as far as community mobilization, we don't need to wait for government to tell us to move forward," Kanemaru said. "If people really care, they are willing to make something happen. They've got the state legislators on board as far as looking at what resources are available. Our attitude is people care, so let's continue with our thoughts and ideas anyway."

Weed & Seed got its Hawai'i start in 1998 in Kalihi-Palama/Chinatown, which has seen a 70 percent drop in crime in the past four years. A second site began in Waipahu in late 2000, and drug crimes there have fallen by 78 percent.

The 'Ewa Weed & Seed site is the third on O'ahu, an effort that just got started in September. There are currently more than 351 sites in 46 states. The program is a coordinated effort among city, state and federal law enforcement agencies and residents to target violent crime, drug abuse and gang activity.

Weed & Seed relies on community efforts and tough legal penalties to "weed out" crime, then applies crime prevention, intervention, treatment and neighborhood revitalization to "seed" a safer community.

The Chinatown program's eastern border is Nu'uanu Avenue downtown and Kapalama Stream on the west. Ala Moana residents want it expanded to Kalakaua Avenue, and Kalihi residents would like to see it enforced far down Middle Street and into Kalihi Valley.

Both areas have obvious need for the weed part of the program, said Lynne Matusow, chairwoman of the Downtown Neighborhood Board, with illegal drugs, prostitution and gambling flourishing in certain sections. What residents hope to do at the meeting is begin to work together to develop a plan to "seed" the area, bringing private businesses into the program.

"This is an attempt to get everyone together to make this thing work," Matusow said. "Talking to each other. We want to see it succeed down here and that is one reason we need to work together."

Rep. Ken Hiraki, D-25th (Downtown, Ala Moana), said companies such as Verizon Hawai'i and the Hawai'i Medical Service Association have said they would like to partner in the seeding effort along with area schools.

"The weed part, police say don't worry, they can take care of that," Hiraki said. "For the long-term success, the seed part is where the community has to step up to the plate or else it falls apart."

Hiraki said anyone interested in becoming a partner in the effort or in creating a new district on their own should attend the meeting to get familiar with the process.

"If Weed & Seed modifies or rejects our application, then it is up to the community to pick up the pieces and see if we can still do it," Hiraki said. "That's a little tougher, but that doesn't mean communications will stop. By getting together and showing that we are united, it might improve our chances."

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.