This just in from the Sacramento Police Department. As you read this, picture yourself in a Jamba Juice or Starbucks with a loved one, minding your own business, looking forward to a nice cool smoothie on a hot day, perhaps after a long day at work…
(222727) 7-10-08 @ 9:18 am, 4640 Natomas Blvd (Jamba Juice) - North Natomas
Two people were inside Jamba Juice in the Raley’s shopping center Park Place in N Natomas. 3 suspects (All 15 years old) approached one of the victims and demanded his cell phone and hand held video game (this is considered a “strong arm” robbery, where no weapon is used). The suspects then attempted to rob the victim’s friend of his cell phone before they were scared off by an employee of Jamba Juice.
Some people (notably people like real estate agents and others who have a vested interest in Natomas having a great reputation), might respond, “But these were kids just bullying other kids. It’s not like they robbed an old lady of her purse or something! Stop sensationalizing Joe!”
But hold up. That rebuttal is completely oblivious to statistical facts around the nature of juvenile crime, specifically how it starts off with these little “bully” type incidents, and then eventually, inevitably, escalates to more daring, and VIOLENT crimes, until something tragic happens. The “it’s only kids being kids” rebuttal is consistent with a *reactive* policy for dealing with juvenile delinquency, not a pre-emptive or *proactive* one. Say it with me again, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of–” what? I can’t hear you. “Cuuuuure.” There ya go. I knew you could do it.
And that isn’t Joe Sacramento talking, this is FACT talking.
The focus here should NOT be on the youth on youth nature of this crime, or the nature of the items being stolen, like a cell phone or video game. The focus should not be on the fact that this was a strong-arm robbery and not an armed robbery. The focus should be on what type of kids are loitering in these public areas without any adult supervision, and–surprisingly–how little the LANDLORD, Donahue Schriber–is doing to protect area residents while patronizing the businesses there.
And it’s not just Donahue Schriber. EVERY developer and landlord (not just in Natomas, but wherever there are businsses and loitering kids and low income housing), who is getting filthy rich off the dollars of hard working residents needs to step up to the plate. I believe Kohl’s is the only store in N Natomas Park Place I have seen thus far with consistent VISIBLE security (the VISIBLE part is key). Important to note here: I have also seen Sac PD out on front of Raley’s a lot. But Should Sac PD have to burn an on or off duty resource (and a lot of gas!) in front of Raley’s? Why isn’t the landlord chipping in? I heard Raley’s is having to foot the bill for this ? Can anyone confirm?
When city officials say we are all in this together and need to work together to mitigate crime in our communites, they need to call out the landlords and developers too. After all, those are the people with the fattest wallets and purses, living in Granite Bay and Costa Mesa, far from the delinquency problems at their shopping centers.
On Donahue Schriber’s web site, they list a few “Challenges” of developing the Natomas Park Place center they own. Here is their list:
-Needed to align the interests of the city, residents and retailers in an emerging growth area.
-Timeline of the development was extended as the city of Sacramento finalized the master plan for the North Natomas area.
-The projects close proximity to local neighborhoods and a planned community college, emphasized the need for “people places”.
OOPS. Looks like the good mayor and team forgot to tell them they were going to surround the center with low income housing. Time to add a NEW challenge and solution to this list:
-Hecka low income housing all over the area, and nothing for area youths to do but come to our center and hang out.Need to provide security for residents.
RELATED! Joe Sac exclusive. Check out our TEEN SLANG FOR DUMMIES entry today, and visit the links..
“Fades” (Also known as “Fade Day”).
When youths gather to watch each other fight in public places. Small children are often in attendance. Fades are videotaped and uploaded to Youtube.com.*Click HERE to check out a Fade at Terracina Gold Apartments in N Natomas last year.
End notes: Much respect to SRO Officer Mike Frazier (School Resource Officer from McClatchy) and SRO Officer George Gomez (School Resource Officer from Natomas H.S.) who were in the area on directed patrol regarding the robberies that have recently occurred. According to Sac PD North Patrol, they ultimately found the 3 suspects in a nearby apartment complex. All three were arrested for robbery - two were on probation - one of which had an ankle monitor.
Time to hold the developers and landlords accountable for addressing OUR community issues, too
Wow Joe. I think the wrong people are in office. You should run for a seat in the council. We desperately need people like yourself who know how to identify solutions. That is three in a row from you now: mentor program, curfew, and landlord/developer sponsored security. Someone needs to share Joe’s ideas with Roger Dickinson and Heather Fargo. Go on Joe
I live in Natomas and I had never heard of “fades” before. This was very enlightening. I also had no idea there was the type of activity going on at those apartments -whch are right near my house! My husband is a correctional officer and he said “fades” are common and often times a lot more bloody than the ones you linked to here. Did you also see the ones of the kids fighting in what looks like school hallways? Mercy! Thanks for keeping us in the loop!!!
Joe I agree the landlord should have security there. I am so sick and tired of all these developers and landlords (you hit it on the head Joe) getting “filthy” rich off the places they build and manage, then leaving residents to fend for themselves. What a joke! We need city leaders that hold those with the purse strings accountable for security! NO SECURITY, NO PERMITS!!
well…i disagree ballerinagirl…….. i think the city should be responsible. ….they are the ones sucking all the homeowner dry on taxes for public safety and then not providing any…… talk about a joke…… i’m not saying there shouldn’t be security because you’re right, the malls like park place should provide some security hell yes …..but make the city leaders and cops responsible too….. they are getting paid to make sure public safety is priority#1
Raley’s pays privately for a cop to sit in front of the store, those are all off duty police, what happened to the security guard that patrolled Park Place??? The mall is split now, a different co. owns the section where Borders and Urban Jacks is. Look at the mall where Wal Mart is, that is a Donahue Shriber property too, and has significant crime issues. I was in Jamba Juice two days ago with my children, glad they were not exposed to violence. Tretheway and Fargo should be lynched for allowing the community to develop this quickly without proper planning for safety. They knew the area was to have 1-2 policeman and did nothing to protect us. It really is a disgrace.
“It really is a disgrace.” Yes it is, and let’s be sure to qualify that so the boo birds don’t come and rip us again. IT’S A DISGRACE COMPARED TO MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA THAT WERE PLANNED FAR BETTER, AND ARE FAR SAFER FOR FAMILIES.
If you don’t qualify it Charlie, they will reply with: “Hey Natomas is WAY better than, so you should shut up and be happy! Stop being part of the problem and be part of the solution!” (like I am the mayor or something. 
Also, so Donahue Schriber does NOT manage all of Park PLace now?
Hey Keenan R, are sure you want to put your trust in Joe? Joe said that Kevin Johnson is the one to trust and save us from the crime occurring in North Natomas, when Kevin Johnson didn’t even show up at the North Natomas meeting last night. He could care less! Way to go Joe! Your following the footsteps of your great mentor who is a LIAR!!!
Shriber owns the sections where Raleys, Wells Fargo and Bella Bru are, the other side is owned by another firm, don’t know the name. I guess we will need to push for private security, I am not sure how effective they can be, the bastards will attack inside a business in broad daylight.
I am not even going to respond to the absurd notion that KJ somehow no longer cares about public safety, or the implication that he, or I for that matter, are somehow part of the Natomas public safety problem.
What are you talking about? Joe is not the police, the mayor, the city council or anyone else on the government payroll as far as I know.He doesn’t get paid a dime out of your taxes to do any of this. But you know what, I think your comment speaks to how damn pathetic the problem is in Natomas. When residents are taking their aggressions out on bloggers who trying to bring attention to the problems, you know you got some serious problems. But really you could just be a Fargo voter up in here trying to create problems which could explain your strange post.
Hey David just turn the channel if you don’t like the show, dude. Pretty straight forward concept.
On a related note, David does raise a good question though. KJ where were you last night?
Though I agree wholeheartedly about the need for more security (and on that note, I see that several North Market businesses have put in their own visible security guards), let’s talk about Kohl’s. I wasn’t aware that they are the only ones with visible security guards. But let me play devil’s advocate for a second…Kohl’s was the site of the boldest of the daytime holdups, wasn’t it? Where were the security guards? I go back to your original idea that what we need is a community that builds infrastructure at the same time it builds apartments and homes. San Diego, Portland, Salem and Bellingham are all examples of communities that set aside land from each developer for nonprofits to buy land much more cheaply. If a community group, a nonprofit club (like say the Boys Club of America or Salvation Army) wanted to buy land in Natomas, the speculators have driven the price beyond anyone’s reach. The city could have required this, but they didn’t. As a result, we have 37 churches and four buildings…all of them over in the Northgate area. Don’t expect to see any new churches either. Even if we could afford the land, a building moratorium goes into effect January 1, 2009. Our community has to figure out a way to solve this without just arming the populace and hiring more rent-a-cops.
Well, wait a second. The Kohl’s hold-up was NOT inside the store (as the JJ one was), it was behind the building. I think rent a cops do serve as a crime deterrent. If they didn’t, no one would hire them. I think the landlords need to chip in. They are the ones getting fat. As for churches, THEY ARE BREAKING GROUND tomorrow for a Catholic one next to the clubhouse (a true miracle in Natomas) so it CAN be done . Too bad fargo and company filled up all the real estate for low income housing and warehouses right in the middle of town where churches and family venues should be
Fortunately the Diocese (and a good friend) purchased the land before the housing boom. It can be done, but it would be much better if it had been planned for.
KJ was a no show to the nna meeting, but it is unclear why. According to the host, Holly Brickner, it could have been mixed signals between KJ and his staff and Holly. They did call during the afternoon and his rep did show up at 8:45…it was still a good meeting regardless.
With regards to the security at Raley’s…well they are lame! The only place I ever see the guy is sitting behind the column next to the shopping carts. I have seen the management come out and ask the guy to do his job and stop solicitors from bothering customers in the parking lot - and the security guy wouldn’t do it!
Too bad, he might have learned a lot from residents.
Wow. It’s one sad state of affairs when people think the cops need to be running the city. Maybe I should just move and get it over with. My hope is fading by the minute
KJ came out to the crime meeting called by police at Inderkum High on his own volition. He was also at a forum in South Natomas the previous month. He has been out and about in the neighborhoods here as well. I agree he needs to stay connected, but lest we not forget it was KJ who brought the crime problem to the public’s attention. Heather “they tell me we’re tracking the same as any other city” Fargo had no clue what was going on–and we’re paying her $110K per year to know what’s going on.
I don’t like the implication that holds: Since KJ missed one community meeting in Natomas, he doesn’t care about Natomas and won’t do a better job than the sitting (and I do mean SITTING) mayor. That’s crazy to me. I don’t buy it.
“He seemingly has a very busy schedule when it comes to community meetings, unless it is a fundraiser.. what is his plan to deal with problem….”
I would love to hear his campaign people address this concern. I sent him an email earlier; in it I forwarded your initial comment.
I don’t have unbreakable loyalty to Kevin Johnson. He has never even acknowledged my existence. If I sense he has an agenda other than to get this city out of the crater it is sitting in (thanks to the negligence and mismanagement of the current band of gypsy squatters at city hall), I will gladly endorse someone of higher caliber.. if such a person were to run.
It’s great to see Hahn’s emails and interaction with the commjunity members, but that doesn’t make him leadership material. In fact when initially asked about concerns about the crime rate in Natomas (before the recent outbreak), he said “There are worse neighborhoods in Sacramento,” which is a true statement, but one that smacks of reactive policy like we have been getting from Fargo for the past 8 years.
But I don’t want to digress any further because this is NOT Hahn’s problem, nor should he be held accountable for it, or propelled onto a pedestal because he called a meeting and sent some emails. This is the problem of the CITY GOVERNMENT who crammed a bazillion people (my naive butt included) into a tiny area and thought it would roll happily along with the same amount of police they allot to, e.g., The Fab 40’s.
WHO could do worse than Fargo? My SON makes better decisions about good guys to bad guys ratio in his toy army games