​​​​​​​Annapolis Police Soon to Benefit from High-Tech Surveillance Cameras

​​​​​​​ECA/HACA Work Group Seeks Practical Approaches to Eastport Crime​​

The Eastport Civic Association (ECA) and leadership from the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA) formed a work group in October to brainstorm specific steps for dealing with an uptick in violence, including a shooting Sept. 24 that wounded a 52-year-old woman as she walked into her Harbour House apartment on Madison St. Several more gunfire incidents were reported in the same neighborhood in November and December.  Annapolis police received nearly 40 reports of shots fired in 2023, the highest number in eight years. Gunfire wounded 22 people in Annapolis; nine people were shot to death. To address the increase in gun violence the work group focused on immediate and necessary objectives related to public safety.


Install and Monitor Surveillance Cameras

For years the City has been planning the use of high-tech surveillance cameras in high-crime areas to alert police about suspicious activity and allow officers to be dispatched in response. There is now a commitment by City officials to make the installation and operation of these cameras an immediate priority. Getting the new cameras operating this

Violence Interruption Program
Goal: Ensure that the County-sponsored Violence Interruption Program (VIP) is implemented at a specific location in the Eastport Terrace-Harbor House community. In VIP programs, trusted “street outreach” workers seek to prevent violence through coaching, mediation, conflict resolution, and long-term follow-up in troubled neighborhoods.     
Actions:

7.    Seek updates on the status and timeline for implementing the VIP program.      
8.    Help the City get the VIP program in place quickly. Meet with County and City staff and the grantee organization to help assure that all parties’ goals and implementation plans are understood and met.
9.    Publicize the purpose and progress of the VIP program in the Eastport community.
10.    Communicate with County and City staff and alderpersons about the project to ensure that the program’s success is a priority.


Public safety funding
Goal: See that State funds available for public safety initiatives are acquired and applied to high-impact projects to stem crime in Eastport.
Actions:

11.    Understand County/State/Federal funding options for public safety and how this funding can be obtained.   
12.    Assess where seeking grant money for public safety falls on the City’s list of priorities; understand who in the City has the responsibility to seek grant money for public safety.    
13.    If obstacles exist to writing grants for public safety funding, work with City/State/Federal staff and legislators to understand and help overcome these obstacles so Annapolis can take advantage of available public safety funding.   
14.    Publicize and educate the community. Identify strategies that Annapolis citizens can use to encourage leaders and politicians to prioritize grant writing and improve the process for obtaining funds.

 
Neighborhood support
Goal: With the backing of a citizen coalition in Wards 6 and 8, exert political influence to ensure safety goals are met.    
Actions:
15.    Identify and contact citizen/neighbor organizations in Wards 6 and 8, such as Eastport Terrace/Harbour House Tenant Council, Eastport Business Association, church leadership, Eastport Shopping Center (owner and stores), and neighborhood/condominium associations.   
16.    Ask the groups to join a coalition to advocate for key safety initiatives in Eastport.
17.    Form a steering committee for the coalition.

Summary
The Living Safely Together initiative wants practical, evidence-based solutions in place to prevent shootings and crime in Eastport. We seek to understand details about key City and County crime reduction projects, overcome obstacles to implementation, educate the community about key issues, and spur projects to avoid delays and red tape.

In December the ECA Board approved a new Public Water Access Committee, chaired by Bill Borwegen, to boost Eastporters’ access to the water for fishing, boating, and other recreation. “Did you know that the City of Annapolis sits on 22 miles of waterfront? Yet precious few locations allow public water access,” according to Borwegen. And the water access spots that do exist need attention – better signage, renovations, and regular maintenance, he noted.


A separate committee (not part of ECA) that is focused exclusively on Wells Cove has worked with the City to make Wells Cove more accessible: clearing brush on the path from Boucher to the cove and adding an Annapolis Recreation & Parks sign marking the entrance.

SAVE THE DATE FOR UPCOMING ECA MEETINGS

Living Safely Together ─ A Community Initiative to Combat Crime in Eastport

​​​​​​​ECA Launches New Public Water Access Committee – Please Join Us!​​

In response to increased reports of shootings and crime in the greater Eastport community, the Eastport Civic Association (ECA) and Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA) formed a work group to seek solutions for the City of Annapolis to implement.   
 
ECA has 700 members and HACA has 357 families who live in Wards 6 and 8. Since mid-October 2023, the two groups have collaborated and have consulted with key City officials to identify workable, near-term actions to combat crime in Eastport.  

The work group’s “Living Safely Together” initiative has identified four goals, as well as actions the group will carry out to help achieve these goals.
 
Cameras
Goal: Get surveillance cameras in place and operational as soon as possible in the Eastport area.
Actions:

1.    Understand the Annapolis Police Department’s current plan to install updated surveillance cameras and shot location software.
2.    Meet with the City’s Management Information Technology department head and others if necessary.
3.    Define obstacles to acquiring, installing, and monitoring the equipment/technology.
4.    Clarify details such as, who in City government is in charge? What is the scope of the project? What is delaying completion? What sources of funding are needed?   
5.    Publicize status and educate the community.
6.    Communicate with City alderpersons and staff about this issue so they make completing the project a priority.


Doors open 11:30 am for food truck and cash bar (come early to mingle over food & drinks)
Appraisal Show 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Location: Eastport Democratic Club (a nonpartisan social venue), 525 State Street, Eastport (free parking)


  • Open to the public on walk-in basis
  • Cost is $10 per each item appraised – bring as many items as you want
  • Suggested donation for spectators: $10
  • Door prizes to be awarded throughout the show
  • Special prize for most unusual item
  • All items entered in the event will be appraised
  • No weapons, books, stamps, or large furniture, please!


Look in your garage, attic, cupboards, and basement and discover whether that special object is trash or treasure! Eastport neighbor Todd Peenstra will apply his vast experience as a buyer, seller, and appraiser of art and antiques to assess objects you’ve wondered about and give you a realistic sense of their worth.

ECA Dues 


Individuals: $25 ($26.05 for credit or debit card via PayPal)
Couples: $35 ($36.05 for credit or debit card via PayPal)

To join or renew your membership, please fill out the
membership form – which appears on a separate web page that has a link to PayPal.

The form also allows you to donate to ECA's Worthy Causes. ECA’s Grants Committee applies donated funds to community groups that apply for help, such as Seeds4Success (a coaching and mentoring

​​​​​​​ECA Meeting Dates Announced for 2024

Bring art, jewelry, silver, glass, nautical items, and more for Peenstra to examine at this lively afternoon event. “I make it fun and entertaining so people have a good time while they learn about their artifacts,” Todd said.


For four decades, Peenstra has worked with world-renowned collectors and everyday owners throughout the U.S. and Europe. You’ll walk away knowing your object’s value for insurance purposes, estate planning, potential sale, or to satisfy your curiosity. ECA will donate the proceeds to support youth and education via the ECA Grants Program. 

How-Do-I 

A quick list of helpful links to

city resources.

AN EasTport Welcome


The ECA is a non-profit, member-based community association.  We engage in activities that improve the quality of life in the Eastport Community and build relationships with our local officials. 


Membership is open to homeowners and renters who reside in Eastport.


Next ​General Meeting: Tuesday February 20, 2024

ECA General Meetings:

  • Tuesday, February 20 - General Meeting, 6:30 PM Social, 7:00 PM Meeting
  • Tuesday, April 16 - General Meeting, 6:30 Social, 7:00 PM Meeting
  • Tuesday, June 18 - General Meeting, 6:30 PM Social, 7:00 PM Meeting
  • Tuesday November 19 - Annual Meeting, 6:30 PM Social, 7:00 PM Meeting

Start Using the wells Cove Access Now!


An April 5 ruling by Anne Arundel County District Court Judge Elizabeth S. Morris affirms that the public has the right to access Spa Creek from the path that runs from Boucher Avenue to Wells Cove. Not only can you walk along the path to view the water but you can also launch small watercraft and pull small boats up to the bulkhead.


Many Eastport residents, aside from those who live on the water or keep watercrafts at the marinas, have nowhere to launch kayaks, 

paddle boards, or canoes except Truxton Park and that Maritime Museum. Neither of those sites is in walking distance for many locals. Using Wells Cove is the best way to demonstrate how important this water access is to the community. Please visit this lovely piece of our community and take advantage of the agreement made in 1992 keep access open and public.


This path is hard to see from the road. It's located between two residences at 1006 and 1008 Boucher, across from the intersection of Jefferson (see the diagrams and photo). Although the site is usable as is, improvements are still to come, such as a better ladder, clear signage and landscaping work.


Click this link to see the City of Annapolis Public Water Access Plan. You can scroll down that web page to see maps showing "Existing Water Access Locations" in the City. 

​​​​​​​Eastport group’s input helps tackle

crime issues in the community​​

​​Prepare Me Annapolis Mobile App: Notifications of what's affecting the Annapolis area, including severe weather alerts, traffic reports, school & government closings, and more.

winter is the result of advocacy by Eastport citizens and HACA, who met with the Annapolis Police Department (APD) and the City to identify quick, concrete actions to stem increased violence in “hotspot” neighborhoods.


Restore Crossing Guards

Recently the Eastport work group learned that money had been omitted from the City budget that would have paid for a full staff of school crossing guards. As a result, the APD sometimes pulled police from their normal assignments to ensure student safety on the streets. At the group’s request, City staff is now working to restore the funding to hire more crossing guards and relieve the police of this task.


Both Bill Reichhardt, ECA president, and Melissa Maddox-Evans, executive director of HACA, have reached out to City officials to collaborate on other important public safety goals. The ECA and HACA will continue to work together to promote citizen advocacy and meaningful action to help make our neighborhoods safer.

program for grades 6-12), STAIR Literacy Program (helps bring second graders up to reading level), Eastport Elementary School, and many other organizations.


If you are paying your dues by check, print the membership form. Mail your check and completed form to:
Eastport Civic Association
P.O. Box 3539
Annapolis, MD 21403

​​​​​​​Second Annual ECA Appraisal Road Show Set for April 6th​​

Click to Enlarge and View.

Please note that in 2024, ECA General Meetings will be on Tuesdays. We’ll meet at a new location: Eastport United Methodist Church, 926 Bay Ridge Avenue.

  • You can arrive at 6:30 PM for social time with neighbors
  • Meetings will begin promptly at 7:00 PM

The new ECA committee will support the Wells Cove folks, in addition to operating across Eastport.


“Wells Cove, Jeremy’s Way, Bill Jones Alley and numerous other access points need our attention,” Borwegen said. “Most folks don’t even know where these sites are located.”


•    If you are interested in joining the Public Water Access Committee, contact Bill Borwegen at board3@eastportcivic.org.


•    You can review and comment on the City’s current map of Public Water Access points at: https://www.annapolis.gov/2114/Public-Water-Access-Plan

State Senator Sarah Elfreth shared funding tips for safety initiatives on December 5.

Annapolis Services

Services provided through the City of Annapolis.

​​​​​​​An entertaining “Fun” Raiser supporting local youth and educational programs​​

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Eastport Civic Association
P.O. Box 3539
Annapolis, MD 21403
eca@eastportcivic.org
Copyright  2022 © Eastport Civic Association. All rights Reserved.

On Monday Dec 4, ECA released the latest draft of a plan by a work group from ECA and the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA) that spells out four crime prevention goals and several underlying actions. At the Dec 5 ECA meeting, Senator Sarah Elfreth  provided guidance on state grant funding that may be available for crime prevention efforts in Eastport. More information will be shared soon, including a list of specific grants that could be applied to crime prevention.

​​​City CoNnECTIONs​