This coming Saturday, January 21, is an important date.  Beginning at 10 a.m. at the Convention Center, there will be a community-wide symposium on the state of crime in South Boston.  The symposium is the idea of well-known neighborhood activist Mary Binda, who suggested it during the Crime Watch meeting last November 26.  It is being spearheaded by state Rep. Brian Wallace.

     South Boston Online considers this symposium to be a critical step in the drive to improve the quality of life in our hometown.  It is an outgrowth of the two Crime Watch meetings held late in 2005.  It is the ongoing response to problems such as burglaries, drug abuse, and that ultimate tragedy, the death of Jean Lampron.  It is critical in the drive to take back our streets.  It is, in our opinion, just as important to participate in this symposium as it is to vote in each election.

     Please attend the symposium this Saturday, if at all possible.

     Action on the problems in the streets of South Boston has already started.  The first of four sessions on Women’s Self-Defense is scheduled for January 28 at the Neighborhood  House Senior Center.  It will be taught by Police Department personnel.  Space is limited - to enroll, phone the offices of any of our elected officials (Hart, Wallace, Flaherty, or Kelly).

     In addition, members of the Crime Watch are seeking a small storefront space along Broadway.  This will serve as headquarters for the volunteers who have signed up to staff a community-wide neighborhood watch.

     It may be useful to point out what the Crime Watch is not:  It isn’t an attempt to have civilians enforce the law – that job belongs to the police.  It certainly isn’t setting up a group of vigilantes.  As romantic and exciting as it sounds, that approach simply doesn’t work.

     Instead, the Crime Watch is just that – a “watch”.  Volunteers will be used as the “eyes and ears” of the community.  What these volunteers observe will be reported to the authorities, using existing channels of communications like 9-1-1.  District Six personnel, led by Capt. Paul Russell, have promised to cooperate.

     And starting with the symposium on Saturday, we have a fundamental right and obligation to do this.  The First Amendment not only protects freedom of speech and religion – it also protects “the right of the people peaceably to assemble … for a redress of grievances.”  As residents of South Boston, we have to do this ourselves.  The police can’t do it alone.  As the Great Seal on the dollar bill says, “Annuit Coeptis” – “It’s time to begin!”

     There are many specific reasons to attend the symposium this Saturday. 

     A large turnout will send an unmistakable message that the residents of South Boston are serious about improving their quality of life and regaining control of their streets.

     If a good cross section of South Boston’s residents attend, then each neighborhood within South Boston will be represented and can bring up its specific needs.

     A large number of volunteers will reduce the time needed by each Crime Watch member.  Crime Watches work, as shown by the recent efforts in Jamaica Plain and Chinatown, so we’ll all have the satisfaction of a worthwhile job well done.

     As time goes on, a Crime Watch will evolve into a positive force.  As Rep. Wallace puts it, it will become “Neighbors Helping Neighbors”.

     And if you need another reason to attend, plan on taking a few minutes to check out the new Convention Center.  It’s the seventh largest in America and it’s New England’s single largest building.  You’ll be impressed.

     This Saturday, January 21, 10 a.m.  See you there!