Congresswoman Johnson Announces $225,000 for Development of the East Dallas Weed and Seed Program

CONGRESSWOMAN JOHNSON ANNOUNCES $225,000 FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE EAST DALLAS WEED AND SEED PROGRAM

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded a grant of $225,000 to the East Dallas Community Organization for further development of the "Weed and Seed" crime prevention program.

The East Dallas Weed and Seed site was re-recertified in November 2001 to expand the original designated to include the Gaston corridor: south of Ross Avenue, east Haskell Avenue, north of the Sante Fe railroad tracks to Oram, and west to Columbia Avenue. This marks the site's receipt of its fifth and final award to achieve its goals.

The project will include a law enforcement component that will focus on interacting with the community to identify factors that threaten the safety of the residents. "Law abiding residents should not have to live in fear of being assaulted, burglarized or their car being stolen. I am pleased that East Dallas is receiving this funding to establish policing goals that include assigning additional police personnel to combat crime in our communities and educational initiatives that focus on teaching residents how to protect themselves from criminal acts," said Congresswoman Johnson.

The program's agenda includes prevention, intervention, and treatment goals that gear at establishing after-school and summer programs. "I am pleased to see that the Weed and Seed site will receive the monetary funding to implement its agenda of crime prevention, intervention, and treatment and even more pleased to see that an after school program is a component of this measure. By proving our kids with a safe after school environment, we protect them from possible harm and keep them focused on their education," said Congresswoman Johnson.

Congresswoman Johnson said that the initiatives were funded because of an expressed dedication to the project. "It is important to highlight that in order to receive the grant awards, each site had to meet certain criteria that highlighted their commitment of time and resources to the project and also demonstrated its local coordination efforts," said Congresswoman Johnson.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/tx30_johnson/04052006C.html