Calendar

News

Service Learning - Evvan Morton Essay

Evvan Morton
Kate Holterhoff
English Com.102
Research Paper
May, 2009



The Clifton community has been a part of Cincinnati since 1850.  Best known by its gaslights, it was seen as the most popular suburb to live in when suburbs were no longer considered slums.  This community is surrounded by commerce and has a neighborhood feel while still being urban and inhabiting students from the University of Cincinnati.  While many of the crimes that occur in Cincinnati are near UC, that type of behavior does not seem to affect the gaslight district.  Clifton seems to have a protective bubble surrounding it; besides some heightened auto theft, Clifton is very much a safe place to live.  So how can a community that is so close to UC and other crime infested areas stay so pristine?  As suggested by the Broken Window Theory, Clifton has produced the beatification and safety efforts it needs to improve the community and reject disorder and crime (Clifton).  


George Kelling coined the relationship between disorder and crime as the Broken Window Theory.  He describes it using this analogy: “‘if a window in a building is broken and is left unrepaired, all the rest of the windows will soon be broken… [O]ne unrepaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more widows costs nothing’” (Kelling).  Clifton seems to be the epitome of the Broken Window Theory due to its ability to prevent crime.  “Paul Kerzner, Chairman of the Greater Ridgewood Restoration Corporation, describes what it takes to maintain [a] neighborhood:
One of the ways Clifton has done this is through a program called “Citizens on Patrol” where citizens volunteer to patrol on foot throughout their community, seeking out suspicious behavior.  This interest in the safety of the community is recognized by criminals, especially since it is by the residents themselves.  Criminals can see the residents care about their community and will notify the police if crime is seen in the area.  This influences criminals to stay away from the Clifton area which explains why it is such a safe place to live.  According to Cincinnati Police statistics, the largest amount of crime has been the 404 thefts that have occurred in the past 12 months.  However, this number is much smaller compared to the 6,132 calls that residents have made to the police regarding crime in the area.  Obviously, the Cliftonites are keeping up with what is going on in their community and are not afraid to report behavior that may harm residents (Cincinnati).      


The Newark Foot Patrol Experiment was conducted in New Jersey in the mid 1970’s, reinforcing the benefits of police patrolling on foot rather than in their vehicle.  The results showed that residents of the community created more of a friendly and respectful relationship with the police, realizing their shared interest in keeping their community safe.  The residents had less fear and felt more comfortable in an area where they felt safe and new that the police were watching out for them (Kelling).  This research lead to the creation of the Broken Window Theory.  When residents do not take care of their community, criminals can tell; they see this as an opportunity to commit crimes because they know that no one cares enough about the community to stop them.  The Newark Foot Patrol Experiment verifies this theory due to the fear that was lessened throughout New Jersey.  The police showed that they cared about the safety of the community by patrolling the neighborhoods.  When criminals see this type of action, they know they cannot get away with their crime and will go elsewhere.  The positive effects of foot patrolling are directly reflected in the behavior of Clifton residents, making it a great example of what the Broken Window Theory embodies.  


         Kelling and Coles define disorder as “incivility, boorish and threatening behavior that disturbs life, especially urban life.  Urban life is characterized by the presence of many strangers” (Kelling).   While many parts of Clifton have an urban feel, there are not many strangers if none at all in the community.  This characteristic helps explain the lack of crime in the area.  Clifton Town Meeting member, Jack Brand, explained his community as one that does not move around much.  Cliftonites have lived in the area for many years, some since they were children.  Because of this long history of residents, the community has been able to create strong ties to their residency.  One might say they are both physically and emotionally attached to Clifton.  This unique bond that the community members have further strengthens how much they care about the community.  This caring personality is what creates the many proactive residents that participate in “Citizens on Patrol” and have a desire to protect Clifton’s safety (Brand).


The Clifton Town Meeting is the governing body of the Clifton community and is committed to combating the concerns of safety and quality of life for its residents.  The meetings are very organized and encourage residents to get involved in what is being done to improve Clifton.  The meeting that I attended contained a lengthy discussion over safety and the heightened auto theft in the area.  A representative of the District five Cincinnati Police informed us that criminals that have committed crimes that are not considered serious were let back on the streets after a day or two.  This greatly alarmed the residents that attended the meeting; they immediately asked the officer what they could do to keep the criminals in jail and prevent more auto thefts from occurring.  This information coincided with City Council’s announcement of the closing of Queensgate Jail.  This closing has created limited holding space for criminals, resulting in the quick release of less dangerous criminals (“City Council”).  While there isn’t much that Clifton residents can do about this situation, the concern and the willingness to protect the community that I witnessed was very strong.  This kind of attitude is very important when small crimes like auto theft occur.  According to Kelling and Coles, these crimes are considered a disorder and cannot be overlooked.  If Clifton decided to disregard the thefts, it could have been a detriment to their community.  This goes to show how much the residents really do care about their community and the lengths they would go to protect it (Kelling). 


 Keep Cincinnati Beautiful uses the lessons from the Broken Window Theory to help revitalize blighted areas in Cincinnati.  The areas containing graffiti and vacant, down trodden housing were the places that crimes such as drug dealing took place.  When KCB fixed up the housing and painted over the graffiti, the amounts of crime dropped significantly (Holterhoff).  This type of work is constantly seen in the Clifton community. 
The Clifton Town Meeting is responsible for various activities that beautify their community.  Their projects include: preserving their historic gaslights, helping to save the Esquire Theater, street tree planting, local park improvements, landscaping in public areas of Clifton, spearheading the Clifton School Playground Project, tree lighting along Ludlow Avenue, the Millennium Fountain, urban design plans for Clifton, and persuading the City of Cincinnati to rethink its plans for the widening of Clifton Avenue (Clifton).   Their most recent projects are the Beautification and Quality of Life Improvement Projects and the Clifton Plaza.  The Beautification and Quality of Life Improvement Projects, funded by CTM, have previously included “flower plantings at the Firehouse and on Ludlow Avenue, flowers and landscaping at the Clifton and Fairview-Clifton schools, landscaping at the Clifton Community Arts Center, Youth Programs at the Clifton Recreation Center, and Light-Up Clifton” (Clifton).  This year, $5,000 has been budgeted to give to surrounding schools and organizations that need financial assistance with improving the appearance of their establishment. 


Organizations in Clifton are encouraged to request funding for a specific project they would like to accomplish and how it will benefit the community.  The projects must be completed by December 31st.  These projects help the beautification of the establishment and also improve the quality of life for Clifton residents (Clifton).  
The Clifton Plaza will soon be constructed at 333 Ludlow Avenue.  This address at one time inhabited a dry-cleaner and, most recently, Bender Optical.  “The site was contaminated with dry cleaning solvents and a decision was made to tear down the building and to clean up the site” (Fant).  This building could have easily become a vacant area convenient for drug dealing and other crimes similar to those witnessed by Keep Cincinnati Beautiful.  Fortunately, Clifton residents took the initiative to change the area into something prosperous for their community by “creating a community plaza on the site that will provide a gateway to the merchant parking lot and a public space in the business district. The goal is to continue to attract patrons to the businesses on Ludlow” (Fant).  The plaza plans hope to create an open, elegant place for lively activities including permanent seating, an electronic bulletin board to inform visitors of what is happening in Clifton, a platform for music and other performances, food vendors, and programmable lighting.  This idea will not only keep the community from crime, but also create more commerce and visitors to shop in Clifton (Clifton). 

 
Another part of the Broken Window Theory is the amount of fear caused by disorder.  Communities in the downtown area of Cincinnati as well as surrounding areas of the University of Cincinnati are known for having continual amounts of crime and disorder.  It is seen on the news almost every evening as well as the emails that flood UC student’s inboxes every day.  Being panhandled by the homeless while walking to a Red’s game, hearing the sound of police cars and ambulances outside of dormitory, groups of teenagers blocking the door to a drug store, these are the types of things that Cincinnatians fear.  “People act on these fears—many choose to leave the city…other residents purchase weapons and dogs, some abandon public facilities…others lock themselves in their residences and leave only when in the most dire need” (Kelling). 
Luckily, Clifton residents don’t have the fear that other Cincinnatians have.  Yet, they seem to have a fear of losing their reputation.  When asked if the University of Cincinnati was considered a part of Clifton, Jack Brand immediately said no (Brand).  However, the list on the Clifton website containing the schools and businesses included within the community has UC included (Clifton).  Brand also confessed that there have been many debates about the boundaries of Clifton and CUF.  William Fant explained “   It depends on what you call Clifton. The news usually includes Corryville and University Heights as Clifton. They have higher crime rates. Clifton proper has little crime” (Fant). 


The fearful attitude that Clifton posses links back to the late nineteenth century where “the story focuses on the definition of Cincinnati as a metropolitan social system…[where] the distinct interests of the districts and neighborhoods of the city should be subordinated to the welfare of the whole” (Miller 4).  From the interviews and the vibe given by the Clifton Town Meeting members, the “welfare of the whole” doesn’t seem to apply.  Cliftonites seem to pick and choose what they want to be associated with their community so they can always look their best.  The University of Cincinnati is a good school so they will include it for its educational purposes, but any crime or disorder that comes from or happens around the school, Clifton has nothing to do with it.  This unique fear keeps Clifton separated from the rest of Cincinnati.


When Clifton was founded, CTM leaders wanted to preserve their historic character as a particular kind of big city neighborhood, an ‘in-town suburb’.  In defining this entity, moreover, CTM leaders…contended that they preferred a diverse…environment…attracting socioeconomically and geographically mobile individuals regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, or lifestyle…By some accounts, all of Clifton ranked in the last three decades of the nineteenth century as a purely residential and parklike suburb for exceptionally wealthy ‘American stock’ people.” (Miller 2, 69)


Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like much has changed since the nineteenth century.  When I attended the Clifton Town Meeting with my father, we were the only African Americans present.  Additionally, Clifton recently had their Home Tour on May 10th where people paid money to look at ridiculously expensive houses in Clifton.  This event is only held once every three years, making it an extra special occasion (Clifton).  These two instances give off the message that Clifton’s goals of an “in-town suburb” were lost; their unique atmosphere may be only available to the uniquely rich. 


Malcolm Gladwell explains the Broken Window Theory as “an epidemic theory of crime. It says that crime is contagious…that it can start with a broken window and spread to an entire community” (Gladwell 141).  With the many communities that surround Clifton, suffering from disorder and crime, why hasn’t Clifton been affected?  After seeing the overwhelming amount of commitment that the residents and CTM has for Clifton, it should be obvious.  Clifton has strived for many years to keep their community at its best, no matter what.  From the many beautification efforts to “Citizens on patrol,” residents are always doing what it takes to make Clifton a community that sticks out in Cincinnati.  With all of this work going towards their benefit, they haven’t left much time for the surrounding communities who are desperate for help.  I believe that Clifton should be less worried about being an individual community and more worried about becoming integrated in Cincinnati and making it the metropolis it was meant to be.      


Clifton has done a great thing with the Beautification and Quality of Life Improvement Projects; however, it could be improved.  The funding from CTM could go towards other communities in Cincinnati.  Communities could send applications telling CTM why they need money to improve their establishment and how it will help Cincinnati.  Clifton would still help their own establishments, but maybe pick one or two other communities that are doing good things for Cincinnati.  This would help Clifton become a part of the city rather than their own separate community. 


Clifton could also expand their relations with Clifton Heights.  They should not be so consumed with wanting to be better than Clifton Heights, but work to help Clifton Heights become as thriving as them.  This could be done by having a joint CTM and CUF meeting to discuss the problems that Clifton Heights is facing and what they could do to help.  Clifton should include CUF in their activities such as their Memorial Day Parade.  More citizens of Cincinnati would come to the parade if it wasn’t so exclusive.  This could build more community within the entire city and bring Clifton in community with Cincinnati.


With the new plaza being built, there is much opportunity for joint activities with CTM and CUF.  The opening of the plaza could raise funds for surrounding community beautification projects.  CTM could host jointly funded performances or events for holidays like the fourth of July.  This would bring many more visitors to Clifton and encourage those visitors to visit other communities as well.  With all of the work that has been put into the plaza, a lot of good could come out of it for Clifton and Cincinnati.


If Clifton were to be more involved with Cincinnati, it would greatly improve the city as a whole.  Clifton needs to ‘share the wealth’ and contribute to Cincinnati becoming a better city.  It is often heard that Cincinnati is always ten years behind.  Maybe Clifton has ideas that could make Cincinnati a more popular and prosperous city.  Overall, Cincinnati was established to be a city that embraces diversity and a place where communities work together for the greater good of the city at large.  Clifton could make a big difference in Cincinnati if they stepped out of their box and associated themselves as a part of the city. 


  Clifton has found a way to combat the Broken Window theory with its unique bond of people who are willing to take initiative and do what is necessary to keep Clifton at its best.  The beautification efforts and prevention of crime has kept Clifton a pristine community for many years.  Hopefully Clifton will begin to realize that they are in fact a part of something bigger than themselves and that they could do a lot to improve the city of Cincinnati. 

Go Back

Brand, Jack. "Why Clifton is so Great." Personal interview.
Cincinnati Police Department, comp. Cincinnati Police Citizens on Patrol. Cincinnati: Cincinnati Police Department, 2009.
"City Council." City of Cincinnati. 31 May 2009 <http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/council/pages/-3242-/>.
CliftonCommunity.org. 12 May 2009 <http://www.cliftoncommunity.org/>.
Fant, William. "Clifton Plaza." E-mail interview. 12 May 2009.
Gladwell, Malcolm. The Tipping Point. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2000.
Holterhoff, and Combs. "Transforming Cincinnati Neighborhoods." PowerPoint Presentation. University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati. 8 Apr. 2009.
Kelling, George L. & Catherine M. Coles. Fixing Broken Windows: Restoring Order and
    Reducing Crime in our Communities. New York: Martin Kessler Books, 1996.
Miller, Zane L. Visions of Place: The City, Neighbohoods, Suburbs, and Cincinnati's Clifton, 1850-2000. Columbus: The Ohio State UP, 2001.

Sign up for e-newsletter:

 

801 Plum Street, Room 16 · Cincinnati, OH 45202 · 513.352.4380 · Fax: 513.352.4389 · KeepCincinnatiBeautiful.org