I just received this notice. I’ll be out of town, but I hope and encourage some of you to attend if you have any opinion on the need for police foot patrols.

The Public Safety Strategies Group has contracted with the San Francisco Police Department, in partnership with the Controller’s Office to conduct two planning studies the Foot Patrol Pilot Program Evaluation and the District Station Boundaries Analysis. The two studies are part of the Police Effectiveness Review.

Some of you may have already taken their survey, or attended a meeting with one of their reviewers. The group is back in town over the next few days and needs help from the SoMa Community. They will be conducting two Focus Groups in the South of Markt and need our feed back. Additional information on the studies is located on the project website www.sfpolicereview.org.

Please let me know (Meital Amitai, phone (415) 538-8100 x 202, email mamitai at iisf.org ) if you can attend one of the following focus group meetings as soon as possible and represent the South of Market.

1) On Saturday November 3, 2007, 9:30 – 11:30 AM

SOMA, Eugene Friend Recreation Center Auditorium
270 - 6th St at Folsom Park Station, 1899 Waller Street

A group will convene to discuss the District Station Boundaries. Topics will include:
o Tolerance for change in the boundaries
o Community priorities for boundaries
o Importance of “neighborhood” stations
o Community education needed for understanding and implementing changes

2) On Monday November 5, 2007, 6:30-8:30 PM

MTA, Atrium. 7th floor, room 7075
1 South Van Ness City Hall, Room 278.
A group will convene to discuss the Foot Patrols.
Topics will include:
o Community expectations
o Visibility vs. Crime Prevention
o Beat location selection
o Community education needed for understanding and implementing changes