Newsroom
10/07/2003
Kennedy, Kerry and Meehan Announce Grant to Improve Community Safety in the City of Lawrence
$225,000 grant to fund Lawrence Police Department Weed and Seed site
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Washington, DC - Senator Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry along with Congressman Martin T. Meehan today announced a $225,000 Department of Justice supplemental award to the Lawrence Police Department in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The funds represent their second award since receiving Official Recognition in January of 2001. $112,500 of the funding will go directly towards community policing efforts such as an increase in the number of foot and bike patrol officers in the targeted district - City Councilor District C in the north side of Lawrence. Community meetings, crime watch initiatives and efforts to improve the communications and the relationships between the District Attorney, police force, and the community will also receive part of this funding. Other programs covered by this grant will increase access to substance abuse treatment, fund the creation of safe havens and provide mini-grants to community groups for substance prevention projects and education. "This is an wonderful opportunity for Lawrence to further reduce crime and substance abuse," said Senator Kennedy. "With increased police patrols and more opportunities for community support and education, the children and families of Lawrence will have a unique opportunity to revitalize their community, and make their neighborhoods safer for all who live there." "As a strong supporter of the Community Oriented Policing program, I know that keeping our families safe means a commitment to putting more cops on the street in our communities," said Kerry, who offered the original amendment to provide funding to place 100,000 police officers in community policing assignments. "The efforts by the Lawrence District C Weed and Seed site to improve community policing is a step in the right direction and I am pleased to announce funding for this program." "The Lawrence Weed and Seed program has adopted an award-winning, multilateral approach to fighting crime and developing social programs that work in this area, and its impact can be seen across the city. This grant will allow the program to continue to make Lawrence safer and develop opportunities for its residents," Rep. Meehan said. Richard Rodriguez, Program Director for the Lawrence Weed and Seed Program, says the grant has helped in several areas of the community, including youth programming, homework assistance and recreational activities, and substance abuse assistance. It has helped support public safety days, vacant lot cleanups and graffiti wipeouts. The Lawrence Weed and Seed Program was named one of the top ten Weed and Seed Programs in the country this year. These funds are awarded by the Executive Office for Weed and Seed. Each site is required to demonstrate a firm commitment either of time or resources in order to qualify for this funding.
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pressoffice@kerry.senate.gov
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