By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE three-member Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council yesterday “passed” a bill that establishes a neighborhood watch task force.
The council’s consultant and adviser, former Rep. William S. Torres, said that it has been the council’s long-standing struggle to exercise its lawmaking power over local matters, and it is only now that the council has finally tried to flex its muscle by passing and approving Municipal Bill 9 SMC-4Rs-01.
The bill was introduced by council member Angel S. Hocog, and co-sponsored by council chairwoman Marian DLG. Tudela and council member Antonia M. Tudela.
It will take effect upon approval by the mayor of Saipan.
This act of exercising its legislative power, according to Marian DLG. Tudela is pursuant to Article VI section 7(a) of the Commonwealth Constitution that provides municipal councils with authority on “all local matters of a predominantly local nature not pre-empted by the Commonwealth Legislature.”
In a letter she wrote last year to Mayor Juan B.Tudela, the council chairwoman stated that the municipal bill introduced on first reading during the fourth regular session on Nov. 9, 2006 seeks “to establish a neighborhood watch task force for enhanced safety, security and protection in the villages on Saipan; and for other purposes.”
She said the bill received “very positive and supportive comments” from the Office of Homeland Security, the Criminal Justice Planning Agency, the special assistant for youth affairs and the Saipan mayor’s offices.
The bill states that the municipal council “is alarmed over reports of suspicious activities often turned unlawful occurring in certain homestead communities, isolated and remote farms, hamlets and certain villages on Saipan.”
The council, the bill adds, “is concerned about potential criminal activities if gone unchecked or unabated would be mistakenly perceived by perpetrators as tacit consent for their behavior. Interestingly, most of these unlawful activities occur during broad daylight when homeowners or occupiers are out at work, on errands, at social functions or on official business activities away from home. As more parents enter the workforce, more homes are left from 7:30 a.m., to 4:30 p.m., five days a week, thereby making these homes and the community itself open to vandalism or other mischief and indiscretions.”
A task force composed of seven members appointed for a term of two years is given the principal task of undertaking necessary assessment, conducting studies and developing action plans and implementation strategies in consultation with the assistance of appropriate local, state and federal government agencies, including non-organizations in devising a permanent neighborhood watch program in every precinct on Saipan.
The funding for the task force’s activities “may be incorporated in the mayor’s annual budget. Other sources of funds from other agencies receiving federal funds may be identified and used in consultation with the mayor. It may also accept technical assistance grants and contributions from government and non-government agencies.”
Mayor Tudela in his letter thanked the municipal council for giving him the opportunity to comment on the bill.
He said his office supports the intent of the bill, as he pointed out that an urgent need confronts the elected leaders of Saipan to do whatever is necessary to take immediate action at the village level to fight the alarming crime rate.