By Megan Burks
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Digesting Food Justice in City Heights
Speak City Heights set out to delve deeper into the issues most important to City Heights residents. Our aim isn’t simply to pinpoint issues, but to tell a complete story about the people, successes and challenges involved.
For the past three months, we’ve zeroed in on the topic of food justice-do residents have adequate access to fresh, healthy foods?
Our answer is yes and no.
Much of our reporting highlighted homegrown solutions that have broadened access to healthy foods. But as we peeled back the layers of this story, we also found the solutions aren’t reaching everyone and there is still change to be made.
Find all of our food justice coverage here.
Join us Saturday as we look back at these stories and consider how they inform the future. In a community forum hosted by voiceofsandiego.org’s Adrian Florido and KPBS’s Ruxandra Guidi, residents and community organizers will discuss how City Heights still needs to change and how it is inspiring change elsewhere.
The event will also feature a cooking demonstration by East African refugees and a video and photography display.
We’d love to see you there.
Shifting Focus to Public Safety
We’ll still bring you food justice stories in the coming months, including coverage of the City Council’s action on urban agriculture codes. But we’re also beginning to shift our attention to public safety in City Heights. Do residents feel safe and how does real or perceived violence and crime affect quality of life in the neighborhood?
We want to hear from you. Which public safety issues should we look at? How should the media approach covering violence and crime in City Heights?
Send tips and thoughts to spkcityheights@gmail.com or post them at www.speakcityheights.org/comments.
Below are some of the public safety issues that have grabbed our attention.
Are School Punitive Measures Stoking Youth Violence?
According to the Mid-City CAN Peace Promotion Momentum Team, youth violence is a major concern in the community. About 75 percent of residents surveyed are worried about gangs and drug use in the neighborhood. About 40 percent said they feel schools in the area are unsafe and lack quality education.
The data points to a larger state and national discussion about the role schools can play in stoking or solving youth violence and criminal activity.
A recent national study showed students who are suspended or expelled are more likely to drop out, affecting their ability to get jobs and stay out of jail later in life. It also showed minority student bear the brunt of expulsions.
Many states are now considering changes to their education codes and punishment practices to help delinquent youth stay in school and better themselves. Many are calling for an end to expulsions for non-violent, non-criminal offenses.
In San Diego County, more than half of all suspensions in the last five years were for lesser infractions.
Can Crime Rates Affect Waistlines?
Peace Promotion Momentum Team data also shows about 50 percent of residents feel unsafe in the community and 40 percent say it’s too dangerous to let their kids play outside.
Such perceptions directly impact physical health, promoting sedentary activities that contribute to obesity instead of walking and playing sports outside.
We’ll look into what groups are doing to improve public safety and increase opportunities for outdoor activities.
Are Police Officers Targeting Illegal Immigrants?
The momentum team has also set out to reduce racial profiling by local law enforcement.
There have been some reports of Mid-City police officers pulling over Latinos for minor traffic violations, discovering they are undocumented, then turning them over to immigration authorities for deportation. It is against police policy for this to happen.
Many say such practices degrade trust between residents and police, keeping some from reporting public safety issues.
The incidents are part of a larger discussion about the Department of Homeland Security’s Secure Communities Program, which involves local police in deportation work.
Do you have comments or information on these public safety issues? Do you have a different story to tell? Contact us at spkcityheights@gmail.com or www.speakcityheights.org/comments.