Michigan Avenue Becomes "Crime Free" Zone

23 May, 2005

Ypsilanti Police have recently established a special “crime free” zone, which affects the HESNA neighborhood. The zone is located within the first two north and south blocks of Michigan Avenue from Hamilton Street to the eastern edge of the City. For HESNA, the directly affected areas are those homes south of High Street. The purpose of this zone is to rid the area of prostitution, which has plagued Michigan Avenue for some years. How it works is that any person arrested for a prostitution-related crime within this zone will not be allowed to return to it and, hence, these types of crimes will gradually lessen and disappear. A similar zone has been successful in the Harriet Street area of the City where it has been directed toward illegal drug-related crimes. East Side neighbors need to be alert during this operation. Residents should notify police of any unusual activity, not only to stop the reported activity, but also to help the police monitor the effect of the zone in the surrounding neighborhoods.