Dave Schwab | Uptown News

Vowing to “take back their streets,” North Park residents gathered on the evening of Aug. 9 in response to a recent spate of attacks on women. At the meeting, residents recommitted themselves to using any and all means available to protect their community.

“Right now if you’re a single female in North Park, you’re vulnerable,” warned Kristin Erickson, a social worker who, along with regional director Kurt Wellman of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), hosted the two-hour town hall meeting held at Sunset Temple.

Five women have been attacked in North Park in the past few months. The perpetrators remain at-large. A composite sketch of one of the assault suspects, described as a Hispanic male in his 20s who speaks with a Spanish accent, has been released.

Wellman and Erickson of NASW said the purpose of the collaborative town hall was to “put together a concrete and sustainable action plan to protect the citizens of the community.”

“We want to start brainstorming some community-based solutions,” Erickson told the crowd of approximately 50 men and women who spoke freely about the North Park crime problem and what ought to be done about it.

“You should be able to walk at night without feeling at-risk,” Erickson said.  “I have several friends who live in the neighborhood, and we don’t let one another walk alone at night.”

“You should go out only in groups — there’s safety in numbers,” cautioned Katherine Olive, a resident in attendance.

Kyle Kresse said he was afraid to even let his girlfriend walk the dog at night.

Sam Ballard, a local artist and North Park resident, said it’s time for the community to take a stand. He’s also involved with Project Lennon, which aims to create multiple Beatles-themed murals throughout North Park in order to promote peace and community awareness.

“We need to be strong and say, ‘We have crime — and address it,’” Ballard said.

There was collective agreement on one point: Nighttime lighting is poor in North Park and needs to be improved.

“It’s almost pitch black,” testified one woman who said she carried a flashlight with her at night for protection as well as illumination.

One woman who was allegedly attacked from behind in May and choked by her assailant before he was frightened away, agreed that North Park’s dark alleyways create risk for locals. She added electrical devices like air-conditioners and stereos can often muffle crime victims’ cries. She added that police response times can also be slow on busy nights.

Others in North Park have similar concerns about lighting. North Park Main Street, a non-profit business improvement organization, recently held a “Lighting Survey” on Aug. 5, where residents gathered to identify dangerously dark areas on the streets of North Park.

Edwin Lohr, who runs the North Park Citizens Patrol, a core group of about a dozen community volunteers who patrol neighborhood streets, said his group is doing the best it can with very limited resources.

“We’re grateful for this type of meeting, but right now we’re frustrated,” said a tearing-up Lohr. “We’ve asked for help — and gotten none.

“This [meeting] is a huge step,” continued Lohr, who also serves as president of the North Park Community Association. “We just need more resources.”

Lohr said new ideas are being explored to enhance and broaden community patrols including starting a “pooch patrol” enlisting the services of dogwalkers to be used as the community’s eyes and ears looking for criminals.

One person suggested homeless people in the neighborhood could also be solicited to serve as lookouts, pointing out that they too are at-risk from criminal aggression.

Lohr likened the problem of resolving criminal assaults to solving a puzzle.

“We can put the puzzle together,” Lohr said. “North Park is a beautiful community, a walkable community. That’s why we live here. I love North Park and I want to keep it that way.”

A contingent from a somewhat more colorful group of community “protectors,” The Midnight Highwaymen, who conceal their identities behind superhero masks and costumes, also attended the town hall and spoke out urging residents to be vigilant against crime.

Several local residents at the Aug. 9 meeting stressed there are numerous concrete measures — adding or improving street lighting, beefing up police, creating citizen patrols, public education and self-defense training for women — that can be done immediately to combat violent crime.

Others advocated taking a somewhat harder line.

A man identifying himself only as “Len,” who lives near Lincoln Avenue where a couple of attacks against women have occurred, said he felt the solution was to get tougher on crime. He endorsed putting in street cameras as well as encouraging women to arm themselves with pepper spray or other weapons to protect themselves. Len said he favors strict death penalty and the “three strikes” law to deter violent crime.

“No one should be afraid to walk alone in this neighborhood,” said Cecile Veillard on behalf of Take Back The Night, a nonprofit whose mission is to end sexual violence. “I want to be safe in my neighborhood.

“We need to take back the night,” continued Veillard, noting a rally against violent crime has been organized for Friday, Aug. 15 in North Park.

“We’re going to meet at 30th Street and University Avenue at 7 p.m. and march to all the [crime] sites over the last several weeks,” Veillard said.

Near the meeting’s end, the NASW took a vote among guests asking them to approve a brand for the neighborhood’s anti-crime push, as well as a slogan to promote it.

“Keep North Park Safe,” was chosen by the crowd for the group’s anti-crime campaign with “If you see something, say something,” as the promotional tag line.

Following the meeting, Wellman distributed an email urging more volunteers to participate in weekwend community watches, or donate money or equipment. He said the group’s main focus would be “taking back Lincoln Avenue.”

The ad hoc group vowed to begin convening regularly to counter violent crime, with the next meeting tentatively scheduled for Aug. 30.

For more information visit northparksd.org, extremejusticeleague.org or email [email protected]. You may also join the Facebook group, “Keep North Park Safe- If you see something, say something.”

Anyone with information about the attacks is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or the San Diego Police Department Sex Crimes Unit at 619-531-2210.