A quiet summer in S.E. Iowa City

By The Gazette Editorial Board

Last week marked the official end of summer in Iowa City, as Iowa City school district students headed back to the classroom.

And that familiar shift seemed to mark a much more remarkable shift in some southeastern Iowa City neighborhoods.

Summer 2010 will be remembered as a quiet summer, one unmarred by the violence and crime that marred the previous year.

That's a huge victory for Iowa City residents, for the community leaders, neighbors and volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to curb violence and crime in neighborhoods south of Highway 6. But it's not the end of the story.

It's just as important now as ever for community groups to stay engaged, to continue collaborating on projects that help motivate and channel young residents' energy into positive activities - to help area young people grow.

And it's a good idea to expand the model that appears to have worked so well - to reach out to other area at-risk youth throughout Iowa City and the local school district.

As new Iowa City Schools Superintendent Stephen Murley told a group of community

leaders and volunteers last week: “We can't afford to let any child go. Everyone has to succeed.”

And this summer is any indication, Iowa City's got the resources and the will to make sure they do. It's important to keep that going.

A year ago, the news coming from neighborhoods south of Highway 6 was grim, the stories taken together painted a picture of youth out of control.

There were reports of vandalism, crime and street fights with dozens of combatants. Neighbors and Iowa City residents at large were, rightly concerned - even frightened - by what was happening.

No one was quite sure exactly how to address the complex problem which, while by no means unique in the country, was relatively unfamiliar to Iowa City.

But neighbors, leaders and others rolled up their sleeves and jumped in anyway, attacking the problem from many angles.

City leaders enacted a juvenile curfew and dedicated scarce resources to crime prevention. Legislators secured funding for AmeriCorps VISTA workers, neighbors established watch programs and raised money for a new splashpad, volunteers flooded the neighborhood to help with summer programming.

“I think it's a good sign, not only that things have kind of quieted a bit, but that agencies are working together,” Iowa City Police Crime Prevention Officer Jorey Bailey told us this week.

“It gives me confidence in what our area agencies are able to do and how they're able to help,” he said. “How we can all work together.”

We couldn't agree more. These accomplishments can serve as a model response for other communities.

Now, keep it going.