COUNCIL PASSES ANTI-LOITERING LAW AIMED AT GANGS, DRUGS

SOUTH BEND -- The Common Council adopted an anti-loitering ordinance Monday
aimed at restricting gang and drug activities in neighborhoods.

The ordinance, crafted after a similar law in Chicago, seeks to regulate
those activities when they threaten or intimidate neighbors or cause harm
to property.

Council Member Charlotte Pfeifer, D-2nd, co-sponsor of the measure, said
the ordinance was drafted after she received several complaints from
elderly neighbors about intimidating behavior.

It was those complaints that led Pfeifer to initiate a series of workshops
and neighborhood meetings to address gang and drug behavior in neighborhoods.

Like Chicago, problem neighborhoods will be designated "hot spots," which
will allow police to enforce the ordinance.

Input from neighbors and council representatives along with a compilation
of a neighborhood's crime statistics all are presented to the chief of
police for consideration. The chief then reviews and approves the request
for "hot spot" designation.

"This is not meant to be a panacea," Pfeifer said. Instead, it is aimed at
improving the quality of life in neighborhoods.

Council Member Karen White, D-at large, said she supported the ordinance,
but is concerned that it be "fairly and consistently applied."

"If it doesn't do anything but keep those people moving so they can't
congregate in one particular area, I think it will be a success," said
David Varner, R-5th.

Not everyone supported the measure.

"Any elderly person who thinks this ordinance is going to make their life
better is just not thinking clearly," said James Cierzniak.

Pfeifer said there will be extensive training of police before the
ordinance goes into full effect by the summer of 2003.