The city of Ann Arbor will remove over 600 outdated “Neighborhood Crime Watch” signs after a unanimous City Council vote. Resident Matthew O’Meara raised concerns to Council member Jen Eyer that the signs may create exclusion. A resolution cited by WXYZ states, “The thing about the neighborhood watch signs is that number one, they don’t reduce crime, but moreover, studies show that they can actually encourage a culture of fear and suspicion,” potentially affecting marginalized communities. Eyer noted that research does not support the signs’ effectiveness in preventing crime.
Ann Arbor plans to remove over 600 outdated Neighborhood Crime Watch signs by mid-summer as the city adopts more modern, evidence-based crime prevention strategies. Council member Cynthia Harrison, co-sponsoring the resolution with Eyer, said the signs “didn’t actually reduce crime” and encouraged discriminatory practices, as described by WEMU…