San Joaquin County Grand Jury
• 2013-2014
Pofsan City of Stockton South Stockton Quality of Life As the South Side Goes, So Goes Stockton
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 16 findings
F1
1 While there are pockets of poverty throughout Stockton, much of it is concentrated in South Stockton where incomes and educational attainment are low.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
1 South Stockton has some of the lowest levels of homeownership in the City. This creates a more transient population and one with less “buy-in” to the community.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
1 The activity of street gangs stems from and exacerbates poverty problems for South Stockton residents.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
1 By December 31, 2015, the City Council shall begin quarterly public reporting of its results from the Operation Ceasefire and Marshall Plan programs, with emphasis on criminal activities that originate or concentrate in South Stockton.
F4
1 South Stockton has been neglected and underserved by City government for many years.
Related Recommendations (2)
R2
1 By December 31, 2015, the City resources be allocated on an equitable distribution based on the needs of each City Council district, and the City in its present and future budgets provide the necessary resources to increase the CEO and SPD staff necessary to adequately address the longstanding neglect affecting South Stockton. 3.0 Crime No area of Stockton is without crime problems. In 2012, based on data provided by the City and media reports, the City had a violent crime rate of 782.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to a statewide rate of 332.6 and a nationwide rate of 223.2. Including property crimes, Stockton’s overall crime rate is the highest in the county. Compared to Riverside, a city with a similar population and density, Stockton had a violent crime rate that was more than double. Stockton homicides peaked at 71 in 2012, giving the City a homicide rate of 23.7 per 100,000 residents compared to a national rate of about five. The SPD oversees anti-crime efforts throughout the City. After the City’s economic collapse in 2008, SPD lost more than 100 experienced officers. The trend seems to have abated somewhat, however, layoffs, resignations, and retirements, as well as the difficulties of finding qualified personnel, have reduced the police force significantly in recent years. The SPD is rebuilding, but it will take time. Street gangs are among the major problems faced by the SPD. At least 45 gangs are known to be active in Stockton. Although gang activity can be found citywide, much of it is concentrated in South Stockton. Efforts are being made to address crime with programs such as the Marshall Plan, Operation Ceasefire, and the Blitz program. The Blitz program strategically utilizes City resources within secured neighborhoods for a 90-day period, using code enforcement, SPD, and other City departments aimed to reclaim neighborhoods by addressing blight, crime, and drug activity. However, no area of South Stockton presently has been designated as part of the Blitz program. STAND is working in cooperation with SPD to implement community policing, which is becoming the standard for the City. Community policing involves assigning officers to specific neighborhoods for extended periods.
R4
1 By September 30, 2015, the City should begin holding a series of public workshop/forums devoted to the needs of South Stockton – as guided by its residents – with the purpose of developing short- and long-term goals to correct the long neglected issues affecting South Stockton.
F1.1
While there are pockets of poverty throughout Stockton, much of it is concentrated in South Stockton where incomes and educational attainment are low.
No recommendations for this finding
F1.2
Compared to the rest of the City, South Stockton has few major retail outlets, including major grocery outlets, and only in recent months did a financial institution announce plans to locate a branch in South Stockton.
No recommendations for this finding
F1.3
People outside and inside South Stockton perceive the area as being an unsafe place to do business, shop, or live. 2.0 Housing and Code Enforcement About 30 percent of South Stockton residents are homeowners, roughly half the rate for the City as a whole, according to Census Bureau data. Citywide, homeownership is highest among whites, roughly 68 percent, and lowest among African Americans and Hispanics, about 42 percent. More than 60 percent of the South Stockton housing units are rentals. The Code Enforcement Office (CEO) is responsible for enforcing the City’s building codes and abating blight and graffiti. There are fewer than 10 CEO staff members to cover the City. Due to the low number of CEO staff, Code Enforcement staff is limited to responding to complaints and are not able to proactively initiate their independent investigations. There are no plans by the City Manager to add code enforcement staff during the next two budget years. CEO efforts are largely reactive, meaning enforcement officers respond to complaints rather than proactively addressing problems. There are efforts to abate blight by several groups, including STAND, a non-profit organization, working with the SPD and CEO to eradicate blight, slumlords, and to reduce crime and drugs, buying homes, and rehabilitating them for occupancy by low income families. Findings
No recommendations for this finding
F2.2
Code enforcement is inadequately staffed to deal with the problems of South Stockton. Enforcement and abatement efforts are reactive rather than proactive.
No recommendations for this finding
F2.3
In many cases, South Stockton residents do not report blight, graffiti, and building code violations because they do not believe the City will help, and/or they fear reprisals from their landlord.
No recommendations for this finding
F2.4
The City is not aggressively taking proactive steps to remove slumlords from South Stockton.
No recommendations for this finding
F2.5
STAND is making contributions to address housing, drug activity, crime, and quality-of-life issues in South Stockton.
No recommendations for this finding
F3.1
The activity of street gangs stems from and exacerbates poverty problems for South Stockton residents.
No recommendations for this finding
F3.2
Crimes of violence, in recent years soared citywide as policing levels plummeted.
No recommendations for this finding
F3.3
In recent months the City has begun to address the problems of crime, but it will take months, possibly years, of effort to rebuild the police force decimated by the City’s bankruptcy.
No recommendations for this finding
F4.1
South Stockton has been neglected and underserved by City government for many years.
No recommendations for this finding
F4.2
City officials, with some notable exceptions, continue to speak about the problems of South Stockton, but take little action.
No recommendations for this finding
Conclusions 1
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CL1The investigation by the Grand Jury demonstrates that South Stockton, an area of greater poverty and crime than most other areas of Stockton, has not been served well by City Hall in any sustained and meaningful way. City government cannot do it all. It will take herculean efforts by South Stockton civic, social, and religious leaders too, but City government should take the lead. Only the City has the resources, police power and platform for public communication to effect change. South Stockton deserves its share of the City assets. In fact, given years of neglect in this part of the City, where about one-third of Stocktonians live, needs more than its share of City resources until the area awakens to become a vibrant and vital part of the City that all citizens want and South Stockton residents deserve. Disclaimers Grand Jury reports are based on documentary evidence and the testimony of sworn or admonished witnesses, not on conjecture or opinion. However, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing such evidence except upon the specific approval of the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, or another judge appointed by the Presiding Judge (Penal Code Sections 911, 924.1 (a) and 929). Similarly, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing the identity of witnesses except upon an order of the court for narrowly defined purposes (Penal Code Sections 924.2 and 929). Response Requirements California Penal Code Sections 933 and 933.05 require that specific responses to all findings and recommendations contained in this report be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the San Joaquin County Superior Court within 90 days of receipt of the report. The Stockton City Council shall respond to each of the findings and recommendations. Mail or hand deliver a hard copy of the response to: Honorable Lesley D Holland, Presiding Judge San Joaquin County Superior Court P.O. Box 201022 Stockton, CA 95201 Also please email the response to Ms. Trisa Martinez, Staff Secretary to the Grand Jury at [email protected]