Tenant attitudes help reduce crime

Crime has dropped 50 percent since changes were implemented in early 2012 at Mayor Wright Homes, the scene of two murders in 2011 and 2012, Hawaii Public Housing Authority officials recently announced.

Tougher policies under Hawaii Public Housing Authority Executive Director Hakim Ouansafi have been credited with the dramatic improvement at the 364-unit public housing development in Palama.

But Ouansafi, who took over the agency and literally moved into Mayor Wright the day after a murder in January 2012, says it’s not so much about what he and his staff have done.

"The biggest shift is the attitude of the tenants," Ouansafi said. "They stepped up to the plate. They took over the community. … They’re making sure nobody’s going around their property, drinking on property."

Tenants have organized a neighborhood watch-type group that patrols the property.

Ouansafi says they tell outsiders loitering: "Hey, you’re not a tenant. Get out of here."

Previously "there was some kind of fear," he said.

Police statistics show the crime rate was cut in half from the period of June 2011 to May 2012 to the period of June 2012 to May 2013.

The number of murders went from two to zero. There were 84 percent fewer aggravated assaults (from six to one), 72 percent fewer nuisance complaints (74 to 20) and 66 percent fewer auto thefts (three to one). Also down by half are robbery (four to two), graffiti (two to one), drunken nuisance (six cases to three) and property damage (22 to 11).

Ouansafi brought in Matt Levi Security on an emergency basis for six months until things stabilized, then went through the procurement process to select the low bidder. Kiamalu Consulting and Investigations Agency is now providing security at Mayor Wright and three other state housing properties.

Security guards now patrol on bicycles to cover more ground quicker. Guards staff both entrances, allowing in only tenants with resident ID cards and registered vehicles, preventing trespassers and unwanted visitors from entering.

Higher solid steel fencing has replaced old fencing frequently cut by intruders.

The housing authority has also broadened criminal history checks, denying housing to anyone convicted of a felony in the past three years.

"Whoever moves in, I would want to have as my neighbor, no less," Ouansafi said.

The cost of the changes has been made up with higher statewide public housing occupancy, at 97 percent (up from 89 percent) and lower rent delinquencies at $250,000 (down from $2.8 million), the agency said.

At Mayor Wright Homes alone, the occupancy rate was at 75 percent in January 2012 and is now 99.5percent because people feel safe, Ouansafi said.

Resident Deeann Burrows wrote to the authority about how the changes make her feel safer. Security guards at entrances, "instead of sitting down watching people pass through, they take the license down," and make ID checks, she said.

"The security ride their bikes around checking if anything is happening inside of Mayor Wright. … I feel more safe … because they put fences around the whole Mayor Wright over 7 feet tall."

Public housing authority board Chairman David Gierlach said one or two residents have complained about the requirements for ID checks and car registrations, but most "appreciate, for the most part, the safety changes we’ve instituted there."

Two new laws go into effect Jan. 1. One would provide for the arrest of anyone not a tenant or guest for second-degree criminal trespassing on public housing property after hours. A second prohibits open liquor containers in public areas on housing property.

"Just about all crimes begin with groups gathering and drinking, which gets out of hand and leads to fights," Ouansafi said.

When it comes to public housing, safety comes first, he said.

"To see the kids playing without fear and to see the elderly walking after dinner, it’s a beautiful sight — something that, when I lived there, wasn’t there," he said.