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IssuesPreventing and Reducing Crime
Posted: May 15, 2009, 1:30 AMScott's Plan:
My goal, over the next four years, is to add 100 additional police officers on the streets of St. Petersburg. Fortunately, approximately ten will be paid for with Federal Stimulus money. Here’s how we’ll pay for the rest:
- Through performance audits we will find waste and reprioritize $1.5 million of current expenses each year and,
- We will invest 1/2 of 1% the first year to 3% the last year of the city's $286 million reserves funds.
I believe the public is willing to invest a small percentage of the city's reserve funds to make St. Petersburg's neighborhoods safe and secure.
Posted by: Administrator
Email to a Friend | Comments (18) |
(18) Comments
Posted by: Mr Smith, 4th Ave n 35 St. | August 18, 2009
Dear Scott Wagman, I think there should be important changes to the St Petersburg community. I believe the most important changes are to focus on the drug dealers. They are becoming smarter, by now moving into nice communities and make them a bad place for all. They even going far as doing their own repairs to the rental property. I don’t just blame the drug dealers even police are doing all they can. But it is the owners of the rental properties that do not do back ground checks and when the community tries to inform them of the drug sales taking place they only want the money. They are not concerned unless the city gets involved. So the owners should be charged for aiding in drug sales also.
Posted by: Marge Culkin, Tyrone | August 18, 2009
I am the President of a 350 unit condominium complex south of Tyrone Mall. We are adding extra security at the additional expense of my owners due to the increased crime in the area. Several residents refuse to call the police because they do nothing. The chief may mean well but he is not effective. When people call the police even for something minor they do not want to be told that the police are too busy to respond either in person or even to put in a telephonic report.
Posted by: Keith Samsel, Old Northeast | August 18, 2009
I agree crime needs to be dealt with. But your position that the Saint Petersburg Police should resume high speed chases is irresponsible. And it's that one issue that has changed my and my wifes support for you. Innocent people should not be put in harms way over issues like stolen cars or other matters that aren't worth the loss of a single life.
Posted by: Carl Chappell, Fair Oaks | August 11, 2009
Unfortunately we do need more police. I'm generally a socially liberal democrat- but people out of work, homelessness, and an unhappy populace seems to mean crime. Wish it were a quick fix situation, but it doesn't; I see my neighborhood changing too.
Posted by: Wayne Finley, NE | August 09, 2009
I second some of what I've read by other posters - desperate people do desperate things, and getting to the root of problems instead of "more police" is the starting place. We need more innovative programs in troubled areas, but we also need to not ignore the rest of the city. We need campaigns that bring people together instead of creating us vs. them mentality. You talk about waste in the city, but I dont see it. What I see is the need for INNOVATIVE THINKING!
Posted by: Elliott L. Carr, Pinellas Point Woodlands | August 08, 2009
Elminate, or reduce Code enforcement dept. and their transportation fleet.Use or train the Garbage collectors to identify common code volitions. They Sit high as they collect trash and can look low and are already out there all week long. Can also use the city Water meter readers. they are already out there..Multi-task train these individuals to do more than one job.. Elliott Carr
Posted by: Elliott L. Carr, Pinellas point Woodlands | August 08, 2009
Conduct a performance audit in the area of code enforcement, Use the Garbage men to identify code violations...They are already out there, several days a week, sitting up high and can look low. All they need is a little training to know what to look for and report it to their Supervisor...it's time to tighten our belts.You can eliminate code enforcement personel and the transportation fleet.that would provide you with more money to hire additional police officers to keep the city safe. Elliott
Posted by: Angie, NE | August 06, 2009
I understand that adding more police may be a good "short-term" remedy, such as taking medicine for hypertension when one is overweight (until the excess weight can be shed). However, it doesn't cure the problem, which is to get to the root of the crime issue. The "criminals" are human beings who have fallen outside of the system. It's in everyones' best interest to help these people become healthier, contributing members of society. What is your plan to address the real, deeper problem?
Posted by: Dawn Prillmayer, Old North East | August 06, 2009
I will spare you the details of my frustration, however, I would trade all of the crime issues for some relief with the homeless. I am tired of their free reign of the city and virtually every corner, redlight, and intersection in St. Pete. They are becoming more confrontational, and bold, and have actually begun coming up to people more often (my children twice) as well as parking their bodies in front of local businesses with their rediculous signs! We do have ordinances against such behavior.
Posted by: Dennis C. Jones, been all over town! | August 06, 2009
Sir, will more police be efective , or just a waste of txpyrs $. Yes they will be able to give out more tickets at RAYS functions but will that help in the deteriating lifes of St. Petersburg citizens