The Observation Deck

A Belle Avenue (South of Franklin/North of Madison) Block Club Meeting will be held Wednesday, September 15, 2010, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Lakewood Public Auditorium, 15425 Detroit Avenue.

We hope to be joined by City of Lakewood Block Club Coordinator, Mike Tuttle, to discuss, crime, housing and other issues of concern. Councilmen Tom Bullock and Mike Summers have also been invited.

Thank you to everyone who attended last night’s meeting.

A special thank you to City of Lakewood Block Club Coordinator Mike Tuttle, Ward 2 Councilman Tom Bullock, and Ward 3 Councilman Mike Summers, as well as Neighborhood Police Officers Angela Ortiz (Ward 2) and Kevin Fischer (Ward 3).

Information on the “Neighborhood Block Club Program” can be found at http://onelakewood.com/PublicSafety/Police/BlockClub/Default.aspx.

So the block club sounds nice. However I am having trouble understanding what the effect is?

Aside from getting to know the neighbors (always a good thing) There seems to be an emphasis on "Knowing who belongs in the neighborhood" or "What cars belong parked on the street". So what happens if you see someone who does not "belong" hanging around his cars that does not "belong" waiting for a friend or talking on the cell phone (you should park and txt) At what point does it become a reason to get the police involved?

Don't get me wrong I completely agree with the whole block club thing, Just a random thought that poped into my head while reading the link Matt posted.

I might even start a rival (does that work?) block club and challenge members of Matt's block club to duels in the de militarized zone also known as Madison.

Jim--- Sort of like the quandary of those Block Watch signs--- does that mean that this street is a high crime area in need of a Block Watch or is it a low crime street because of the Block Watch?