Safety in Lakewood

[Robert Overman]

I will keep that in mind, as i pay my inexpensive rent, and use my extra rent money to consume products from the area.

[Bill Call]

Bill--The suggestions you make are not, as you seem to suggest, mutually exclusive of those made by me. .

I think they are. Governments at all levels are adept at creating an artificial shortage to create a "crisis" that can only be resolved by more taxes. They have no interest in actually becoming more efficient or cost effective. When you cave into the argument that a tax increase is needed you fund business as usual.

There are over 100 employees in the police department but only about 45 of them are available on an average day to patrol the streets. By that math you will have to hire 60 new police officers to get 30 on the streets.

Wouldn't it be better to solve the problem of the disappearing patrolman.?

........Please refrain from straw man arguments --i.e., "doubling property taxes"--who suggested that? That type of gimmick gets this community nowhere.

Guilty."Doubling property" taxes is something of a stawman. But this particular strawman has some meat on his bones.

Just over a year ago the administration was seeking a 50% increase in the income tax rate simply to fund current operations. In the absence of that increase they spent the City reserves. Since reserves don't last forever they will be back for more.

Funding 30 new police officers to get 15 officers on the street will cost $3 million dollars per year. That will require a 17% increase in income taxes. You are getting close to a 100% increase and we haven't even started talking about the 20% drop in property tax collections that is coming our way.

Which brings up property taxes....Three new school levies, new county levies a 20% drop in collections...We will reach that 100% mark sooner than you think.

[Rick Uldricks]

...and not see people peeing in bushes...

kids going to bathroom outside has been a problem that's increasing in frequency on my street. they're not even using the bushes -- they're just relieving themselves on the side of the building. I'm not even sure how I'd report this to the police.

[Eric Conroy]

There will be a Public Hearing Thursday, July 12, 2007 at 7:00 PM in the Auditorium of Lakewood City Hall, 12650 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio to discuss the following items:

Review of crime statistics; current law enforcement strategies; citizen involvement.
(and hopefully the effect of public basketball on its citizenship)

[Joe Ott]

Thanks for the update Eric.

[Dave Sharosky]

unfortunately, I won't be able to attend. If anyone does attend the meeting, could you write a brief summary of what happened or I'll call and see if Mr. Fitzgerald can post a summary on the city website?

Thanks,

Dave

[Danielle Masters]

The meeting was good tonight. A good turnout and some really great comments. The nice thing was that many people gave positive suggestions of what could be done by the community to help with safety related issues. I particularly liked the idea of a mandatory civics class for juveniles that commit crimes. The one disappointing thing tonight was that the mayor didn't come. While it is understandable that he can't be everywhere, he needs to show that he cares about the concerns of the community. He should have been there.

All in all it was an informative meeting, I just hope that we get action quickly.

[Brian Pedaci]

Missing one meeting is excusable, with the lead time and later start for this one, this definitely seems like ducking an uncomfortable scene.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Missing one meeting is excusable, with the lead time and later start for this one, this definitely seems like ducking an uncomfortable scene.

Brian

I am not making excuses for the mayor, but the people that needed to be there were there.

Citizens, Chief of Police, Law Director.

Next meeting maybe the Finance Director so we can see how we can pay for this, or cut taxes and be safer.

Already I am seeing some spin thought coming out and not sure from where. One chain of thought I can't get to work past. If we have more police, they will make more arrests, we will need bigger jails. If they are committing crime, we still want them arrested? Right? The thought behind an aggressive build up in police, is to keep crime out, not manage it. If that worked you would need less jail space.

Another thing that could have answered half the questions tonight was if they explained how they grade calls. Councilman Fitzgerald touched on it when he explained in Cleveland they would always mention a weapon, to get police there faster. Many reasons why police can't be everywhere at the same time. Laziness is not one of them.


FWIW


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[Dee Martinez]

Mr. OBryan:

I cant speak for everyone but you may be misreading the people who are in favor of more police.
It may not be that we want more arrests but we want more police PRESENCE to DETER crime, not punish it.
For me, I'd like to see more cruisers on more streets more often, particularly in the higher crime areas. Your block watch idea is fine but its an unoffficial, catch-as-catch-can approach that can fail just when its needed most. What happens on a holidy weekend when half the neighborhood goes out on the boat?

As for the mayor missing the second meeting, I agree. Inexcusable. Its hard to believe he is treating the citizens concerns so cavalierly in an election year. I beleive he will pay a price for that.

[Bryan Schwegler]

I am not making excuses for the mayor, but the people that needed to be there were there.

Citizens, Chief of Police, Law Director.

Next meeting maybe the Finance Director so we can see how we can pay for this, or cut taxes and be safer.

But wouldn't you think that as "Safety Director" the Mayor should attend at least one of these meetings?

I would think given the high level of concern that seems to around this subject, he'd want to be involved first hand.

[Jim O'Bryan]

I am not making excuses for the mayor, but the people that needed to be there were there.

Citizens, Chief of Police, Law Director, Finance Director

Next meeting maybe the Finance Director so we can see how we can pay for this, or cut taxes and be safer.

But wouldn't you think that as "Safety Director" the Mayor should attend at least one of these meetings?

I would think given the high level of concern that seems to around this subject, he'd want to be involved first hand.

Bryan

Please note, council was not on my list either.

I was very please to see all council members there except Bob Seelie who is on sick leave I believe.

What on earth would the mayor have added to that discussion?

Instead of focusing the complaints on Mayor Tom George, who would have consulted with Chief Malley and Brian Corrigan. The mayor took all politics out of his part of the meeting by stepping aside, and letting Chief Malley speak right to the residents.

No spin, no restating questions.

Do you really think that the mayor has no interest of concerns about safety? If I ever thought that I would have led the recall.

I could ask where was council at the McDonalds shooting? The mayor and Brian Corrigan were there. They were not there for face time, or to issue releases about what they achieved. Not one gave an interview all day. Neither one walked to the cameras for an update or a statement.

The TV cameras were there last night. A little bird told me that someone had called them, "it would be an interesting night..."

I would like to see a session with Chief Malley, Brian Corrigan, Tom Corrigan, Jennifer Pae, Dottie Buckon, with Ken Warren moderating and representing both the library and the residents. If the solution cannot be found there I would be shocked. From all I know and hear, you could conduct the meeting with any two and move this along faster.


FWIW



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[Danielle Masters]

Last night as I was preparing to go to the meeting my husband said to me "Why do you bother? Nothing is ever going to get done." I know several other people that feel the same way. I personally feel that community involvement is essential but I also understand the frustration of people that see lots of committees and task forces and see little action. Back when the CSU study was presented that was a big issue with people in the city. People want action. I will continue going to meetings because it's just who I am, but I do hope something productive comes out of this. What we don't need is more studies sitting on a shelf collecting dust.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Last night as I was preparing to go to the meeting my husband said to me "Why do you bother? Nothing is ever going to get done." I know several other people that feel the same way. I personally feel that community involvement is essential but I also understand the frustration of people that see lots of committees and task forces and see little action. Back when the CSU study was presented that was a big issue with people in the city. People want action. I will continue going to meetings because it's just who I am, but I do hope something productive comes out of this. What we don't need is more studies sitting on a shelf collecting dust.

Danielle

Boy where to start on this post!

People want action, but are not willing to pay more. So studies have to be issued to figure out where to put slim resources and what programs need to be cut to pay for new ideas.More and more studies.

What has always been suggested by the much understood concept of the police levy, is to get in front of this issue right now. Stop the bleeding right now. Something needs to be done, right now.

As I sat there last night a Shawn Juris style question popped into my head, "Why did these people move to Lakewood?" Schools, library, walk-ability, porches, Emerald Canyon, biking, close bars, whatever. Why on earth would anyone let some petty thugs take this from the? Just living in Lakewood the way you have always lived will control the problem.

How many still sit on porches at night or watch American Idol? How many like myself would do better walking in the walkable city? How many crimes have been stopped, by the foul mouth people standing in front of bars? These are the very things Nickie Antonio was talking about last night. Use the community and the city the way it was designed for. A vibrant neighborhood community.

As Ezra Pound once said, "It's not rocket surgery."

Every answer needed was given last night, think about it.

Speedtrap and revenue on I-90, or radar on side-streets where kids play?

You choose.

Radar on side streets where kids play, or extra police at the high school at 3:30?

You choose.

More police at the bars, or at the borders looking for trouble?

You choose?

Police Levy or motivating 3,000 - 5,000 citizens into block watches?

You choose.

Save money, study, plan, and possibly implement, or do it now.

You choose.

Three years ago, we used the term "block walks" to describe Observers getting together and walking around and Observing. The response was positively underwhelming from both members and council. Last night they were talking of "citizen police" is an unofficial uniform. with the ability to...

You choose.



FWIW

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[Bryan Schwegler]

What on earth would the mayor have added to that discussion?

Instead of focusing the complaints on Mayor Tom George, who would have consulted with Chief Malley and Brian Corrigan. The mayor took all politics out of his part of the meeting by stepping aside, and letting Chief Malley speak right to the residents.

You may be right that he personally wouldn't have added anything to the discussion. However there is an idea of presence. This is an important issue to many people in Lakewood as evidenced by the turn out to these meetings. The Mayor, as safety director and head executive of the city, should be present if for nothing more than to acknowledge how important this is to those who attend.

If you read here, and other message boards about Lakewood, there are quite a few people that have been perplexed by the mayor's absence at these meetings. His presence would have averted this and helped keep the focus on the point rather than a game of "Where's MTG?"