Part of plan for intervention, crime prevention
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brinker Harding
402-339-3282
Daub Unveils Sun Dawgs After-School Program
OMAHA (April 27, 2009) – Hal Daub, current candidate for mayor, today unveiled his proactive idea to attack crime through early intervention and prevention by creating the Sun Dawgs After School program.
Sun Dawgs After School would be an extension of the highly-successful Sun Dawgs summer recreation and activity program Daub began while serving as Omaha’s mayor.
Daub referred to the Omaha Police statistics for January that showed a disturbing, rising trend in six of seven crime categories including aggravated assaults and forcible rape.
“My opponent says we need to fight crime by creating jobs,” Daub told those gathered for a news conference at Columbus Park Community Center (1515 South 24th Street, Omaha, Nebraska). “I say we can’t afford to wait. We need to focus on protection and prevention – and we need to do it immediately.”
Daub proposes establishing the Sun Dawgs After School program at 10 of the City’s Community Centers:
- Adams,
- Sorenson,
- Benson,
- Camelot,
- Christie Heights,
- Columbus,
- Florence,
- Mockingbird,
- Montclair, and
- Sherman.
Each of these centers would offer fully-staffed and supervised recreation programs for children ages 6 to 15 who are registered to take part. Sun Dawgs After School would be held on all regular school days, and there would be no charge to participate.
“We will actively publicize the programs and encourage parents to sign-up their children, especially in the neighborhoods where there are the most at-risk kids,” Daub said.
The 10 recreation centers would be upgraded in terms of the equipment and games available, as well as some indoor playground equipment for the younger kids. In addition to providing supervised games and craft activities, the program would provide a small, nutritious snack.
Daub said that as part of his mission to prevent crime, Sun Dawgs After School would include a crime education element by partnering with other community organizations, the Omaha Police Department and the schools. This educational effort would include anti-violence workshops and inspirational speakers – perhaps including positive role models who have turned their lives away from crime.
He reminded those in attendance that during the primary campaign, he unveiled a comprehensive and detailed seven-point plan for reducing violent crime in Omaha.
“Among the ideas I presented are placing more police officers on the streets and using federal racketeering laws to prosecute all those who participate in gang violence,” Daub said. “And while those elements remain critical, reactive parts of my plan to make Omaha a safer city, I want to expand today on my proactive ideas to attack crime through early intervention and prevention.”
Daub noted that the Sun Dawgs summer program is one of his proudest accomplishments as mayor.
“My proposed Sun Dawgs After School program would provide an equally-valuable recreational service for our children,” he said. “At the same time, the educational element of Sun Dawgs After School is a unique proactive approach toward keeping our children out of trouble – and out of gangs – as we work together toward reducing violent crime and making Omaha a safer city for all our residents.”
Daub said the estimated costs for this 10-site program, based on 15-20 kids attending each day, are about $40,000 per year, not including some one-time start-up costs.
“I believe Sun Dawgs After School is a reasonable alternative to leaving children unsupervised by better utilizing the facilities we already have,” he said. “After all, crime comes with a much higher pricetag for our community – and our families.”
