ShAdCo Update

One of our good friends from the Riverside Neighbors group attended last weeks meeting and gives us this update:

One of the Showdown officers attended the meeting. He provided the following information for the Operation Showdown area:
-No violent crimes in the Showdown area for the past 30 days.
-21% increase in arrests
-46% decrease in property crime so far

He also reported back on several houses that ShAdCo members complained about last week (several busts, etc.).

The officer from Showdown asked all residents of the area to KEEP CALLING if you see any suspicious activity. Even reports for small issues can be leads to bigger issues. Also, if you can attend ShAdCo and give the officers detailed information yourself, I think that is
also a big help.

Remember, the more information those folks in Operation Showdown have, the more efficient they will be in cleaning up the area.

Our thanks to our friends at the JSO and from the Riverside Neighbors group.

ShAdCo Meeting This Tuesday

Here is your monthly reminder for to attend the ShAdCo meeting. It is Tuesday May 23 from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm. This event repeats on the fourth Tuesday of every month. the substation is located in the old Cedar Hills Shopping Center at 3726 Blanding Blvd.

The police have their hands full in our city this year. If you have any complaints the best way to be heard is in person. There seems to be a small crime wave hitting the district and we still have a graffiti problem. The police need your help. If you don't report the crimes, they can't do anything about it.

Call the Zone 4 Substation at 573-3165 if you have any questions.

Riverside Avondale Facing Loss of Trees

The Riverside Avondale tree canopy is in trouble due mostly to the large number of mature water and laurel oaks which we will lose within the next 5-10 years. An asian proverb says, "this generation plants a tree; the next enjoys the shade". Hardwood trees do grow slowly and therefore we must act now to offset the expected loss of tree canopy.

And Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) is doing just that with several ongoing projects. First, we are working with Greenscape, JEA, and neighborhood resident volunteers to plant trees in the neighborhood parks. In February of this year, we arranged for the planting of 4 famous and historic trees in Boone Park; donated by American Forests and designated the "Riverside Avondale Historic Tree Grove". On April 22, a group of volunteers planted 26 trees in Fishwier Park.



RAP volunteeers: front row, Flewellyn Podris, Fred Podris, Markus Theisen
back row, Tom Tubman, Early Piety, Doug Degenhardt, Joey Theisen, Katrina Theisen
not shown, Matthew Tubman.

RAP is also working on reforestation of the major streets leading into our neighborhood and are working with Greenscape to offer residents larger (3" to 4" caliper trunk) trees, delivered and planted at a low price....details soon.

Finally, we urge each of you to examine your properties trees and plant new trees if needed. The live oak is the tree which we most recommend due to its beauty, hardiness, and long life (up to 1,500 years).

Brooklyn Mixed Use Project Planned

In articles on April 5, Urban Jacksonville and The Jacksonville Business Journal reported approval by the JTA to sell property that could see a new, mixed-use project in Brooklyn. The project is to have 250 residential units, 130,000 square feet of office space. It is to be home to the law firm of Marks Gray P. A. who will take 50,000 sq. ft. of the office space. Retail space is also planned, including two restaurants.

There is quite a discussion going on over at the Metro E-mpire Forums covering topics such as extending the Skyway Express, affordable housing and possibly closing Dora Street for trolleys. There are plenty of other topics there as well worth taking a look at.

A Little News from ShAdCo

There have been some changes in the leadership in our zone
(Zone 4). Asst. Chief Richardson was transferred to "special events" and was replaced by Asst. Chief Hackney. Also, 2 lieutenants were transferred. Those in attendance had the opportunity to meet Asst. Chief Hackney and the 2 new lieutenants, as well as the Chief overseeing Zone 4.

For those of you not familiar with the Sheriff’s Advisory Council (ShAdCo), each month, a report is given to the attendees that generally includes recent arrests and what has been keeping the officers busy over the past month as well as updates on the concerns brought to their attention by citizens in previous months. There is some general discussion with more questions and concerns reserved for individual discussion, one-on-one with the officer's after the meeting.

Some of the problems that they are addressing in the district are the begging problem in the Riverside Publix parking lot, the homeless issue in both Riverside and Memorial Parks and criminal activity in specific residences. This month officers were able contact each of the store owners/managers in the Publix/Starbucks shopping center. They agreed to sign general trespassing complaints. So, if someone is caught begging in the parking they are issued a warning and asked to move along. If they are found panhandling there again they will be charged with trespassing – a misdemeanor. Since implementing this plan, the officer in charge has talked to many of the patrons of those stores and the instances of begging has gone down. The JSO asks that you call the non-emergency # (630-0500) if you see any more of this activity in the parking lot.

Don't forget to call 911 or the non-emergency number (630-0500) if you see any problematic activity. The more calls we make the more police attention our area gets.

ShAdCo meets on the last Tuesday of every month at the Cedar Hills Shopping Center. The address is 3726 Blanding Blvd. The meetings start promptly at 7:00 pm and last one hour. Call the Zone 4 Substation at 573-3165 if you have any questions.

Downtown Action Committee hears JTA plan

The Daily Record reports that the Jacksonville Transportation Authority brought its plan for the future of transit to the Downtown Action Committee's meeting on Monday, April
24. They are recommending quite a few changes to existing routes with the addition of more to improve the service. Furthermore, the plan combines bus, Trolley and Skyway hubs with a relocated Greyhound bus station and the return of Amtrak rail service to Downtown. The plan also includes office space, retail space, public areas and restaurants plus an additional 2,200 parking spaces.

Council member Suzanne Jenkins, who chairs the DAC, said she is going to hold another town meeting in May to update the public on the committee's proceedings and suggestions. She has requested that the JTA determine the date and location of its public meeting before her next town meeting. Contact Council member Jenkins or the JTA for more information.