Hi Edgard! Call has been answered! We held a meeting in late June with our SDPD LGBTQ Liaison officer, to discuss the possibility of forming a neighborhood safety group. We just started having initial discussions with a large group of community members who answered the call to get involved and started sharing ideas. Our next gathering will most likely be Thursday, Aug. 22, at 5:30 pm, just before the HIllcrest Kiwanis Meeting. We're looking forward to gathering input from community members on how this can work. One thing has been clear so far: Bringing back what Stonewall Patrol was will not happen, but something new and fresh that is simply an extra pair of eyes for the community, and ambassadors who can assist people in need.
hi Benny! thank you so much for this information! i will write a follow-up blog to this one with the attached information and get people informed!!! i'm thrilled to hear that the call has been answered and that steps are being taken to address community safety concerns. it's heartening to see the level of engagement from community members and the proactive approach you're taking!
the meeting with the sdpd lgbtq liaison officer sounds like a great start. i'm curious about any insights or perspectives they shared? did they offer any guidance on best practices for community safety groups?
i love that you're emphasizing a fresh approach rather than simply trying to resurrect stonewall patrol. the idea of community members serving as extra eyes and ambassadors feels like a more holistic and positive approach to neighborhood safety.
i'd love to attend the august 22nd meeting. is it open to all community members? if so, how can folks rsvp or get more info?
thanks again for keeping us in the loop. actions like these make me proud to be part of this community. let me know if there's any way i can help spread the word or contribute!πβπ½
Absolutely! We didn't get into best practices yet (next meeting) but the officer emphasized the importance of reporting. Many people have been understandably turned off from reporting crime because either the wait times are too high, no response, or fears of law enforcement. This group can be an ally in encouraging people to report crimes *and* hate incidents so that the law enforcement and decision makers have a better idea of where things are happening and where to deploy resources. We, too, talked about liability issues which we completely understand, and this will be a 100% hands off type of group. Its in the infancy stages and still gathering community feedback (community=those who show and make their voices heard).
The meeting is definitely open to everyone and I've added you to my list to send a reminder to :)
Hey Edgard, love your passion for our community! While I appreciate the spirit behind the Hillcrest Stonewall Watch idea, I've got some concerns. As someone who's been involved in community organizing for years, I've seen how quickly volunteer enthusiasm can wane, especially for regular patrols. Plus, there are liability issues, potential for discrimination (even unintentional), and the question of how effective amateur patrols would be against drive-by attacks. Don't get me wrong, we definitely need to do something, but maybe we could focus on pushing for better hate crime training for SDPD, expanding LGBTQ+ awareness programs in schools, and improving lighting in high-risk areas? These might be more sustainable long-term solutions. What do you think? Your energy is exactly what Hillcrest needs though!
hey there, Jean! thank you so much for taking the time to read my piece and share your thoughtful feedback. i really appreciate you bringing your experience and perspective to this conversation - it's exactly the kind of dialogue i was hoping to spark!!!
you make some excellent points that i hadn't fully considered. you're absolutely right about the potential pitfalls of volunteer patrols, from waning enthusiasm to liability issues to unintended consequences. i can see how my proposal could be problematic in practice. your suggestions for more sustainable solutions like improved hate crime training, education programs, and better lighting are spot-on. those are the kinds of systemic changes that could make a real difference long-term.
i still stand by the core of my argument - that we need to move beyond just saying "no surveillance" or "ACAB" and come up with actual, implementable solutions to protect our community. we can't simply volunteer queer bodies and lives when people say "the community can protect itself." we need concrete plans and mobilization.
but you've convinced me that my specific proposal isn't the right approach. i'm grateful for your constructive criticism and alternative ideas. this is exactly the kind of nuanced discussion we need to have to find effective ways to keep our queer family safe!
Hi Edgard! Call has been answered! We held a meeting in late June with our SDPD LGBTQ Liaison officer, to discuss the possibility of forming a neighborhood safety group. We just started having initial discussions with a large group of community members who answered the call to get involved and started sharing ideas. Our next gathering will most likely be Thursday, Aug. 22, at 5:30 pm, just before the HIllcrest Kiwanis Meeting. We're looking forward to gathering input from community members on how this can work. One thing has been clear so far: Bringing back what Stonewall Patrol was will not happen, but something new and fresh that is simply an extra pair of eyes for the community, and ambassadors who can assist people in need.
hi Benny! thank you so much for this information! i will write a follow-up blog to this one with the attached information and get people informed!!! i'm thrilled to hear that the call has been answered and that steps are being taken to address community safety concerns. it's heartening to see the level of engagement from community members and the proactive approach you're taking!
the meeting with the sdpd lgbtq liaison officer sounds like a great start. i'm curious about any insights or perspectives they shared? did they offer any guidance on best practices for community safety groups?
i love that you're emphasizing a fresh approach rather than simply trying to resurrect stonewall patrol. the idea of community members serving as extra eyes and ambassadors feels like a more holistic and positive approach to neighborhood safety.
i'd love to attend the august 22nd meeting. is it open to all community members? if so, how can folks rsvp or get more info?
thanks again for keeping us in the loop. actions like these make me proud to be part of this community. let me know if there's any way i can help spread the word or contribute!πβπ½
Absolutely! We didn't get into best practices yet (next meeting) but the officer emphasized the importance of reporting. Many people have been understandably turned off from reporting crime because either the wait times are too high, no response, or fears of law enforcement. This group can be an ally in encouraging people to report crimes *and* hate incidents so that the law enforcement and decision makers have a better idea of where things are happening and where to deploy resources. We, too, talked about liability issues which we completely understand, and this will be a 100% hands off type of group. Its in the infancy stages and still gathering community feedback (community=those who show and make their voices heard).
The meeting is definitely open to everyone and I've added you to my list to send a reminder to :)
Hey Edgard, love your passion for our community! While I appreciate the spirit behind the Hillcrest Stonewall Watch idea, I've got some concerns. As someone who's been involved in community organizing for years, I've seen how quickly volunteer enthusiasm can wane, especially for regular patrols. Plus, there are liability issues, potential for discrimination (even unintentional), and the question of how effective amateur patrols would be against drive-by attacks. Don't get me wrong, we definitely need to do something, but maybe we could focus on pushing for better hate crime training for SDPD, expanding LGBTQ+ awareness programs in schools, and improving lighting in high-risk areas? These might be more sustainable long-term solutions. What do you think? Your energy is exactly what Hillcrest needs though!
hey there, Jean! thank you so much for taking the time to read my piece and share your thoughtful feedback. i really appreciate you bringing your experience and perspective to this conversation - it's exactly the kind of dialogue i was hoping to spark!!!
you make some excellent points that i hadn't fully considered. you're absolutely right about the potential pitfalls of volunteer patrols, from waning enthusiasm to liability issues to unintended consequences. i can see how my proposal could be problematic in practice. your suggestions for more sustainable solutions like improved hate crime training, education programs, and better lighting are spot-on. those are the kinds of systemic changes that could make a real difference long-term.
i still stand by the core of my argument - that we need to move beyond just saying "no surveillance" or "ACAB" and come up with actual, implementable solutions to protect our community. we can't simply volunteer queer bodies and lives when people say "the community can protect itself." we need concrete plans and mobilization.
but you've convinced me that my specific proposal isn't the right approach. i'm grateful for your constructive criticism and alternative ideas. this is exactly the kind of nuanced discussion we need to have to find effective ways to keep our queer family safe!