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Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on August 25, 2013 at 6:06pm

Is this meeting in addition to the Public Safety Meeting in the evening??

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Permalink Reply by John Boutet on August 26, 2013 at 10:35am

Yes it is.

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Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on August 26, 2013 at 4:15pm

So, i just returned from this very well attended meeting of mostly PLEX residents (it was a PLEX sponsored meeting). The Chief and the Mayor spent 90 minutes with the group along with some of the SW Crime Prevention Officers. Some of the 'themes' raised by citizens included the following:

• concerns about known 'hot spots' (i.e. corners) where the bad guys hang out and little being done to move people along
• concerns about SLOW response time from RPD (i.e. 30 + minutes) for significant calls to 911 (an example of a street brawl with bricks as weapons was offered)
• a general feeling of unrest, worry and concern given the recent violence
• a wish for MORE police presence including walking and interacting - and/or acting as a deterrent at known trouble spots
• concerns from business owners who can't attract/keep customers because of crime and/or people hanging out in front of their establishments
• a 5 year history of a known gambling/alcohol serving establishment with no solution to shutting it down even though the NSC administrator has been in the establishment and witnessed the criminal activity
• a desire for more cameras and/or a portable camera to be placed at the current problem area in PLEX
• a request/suggestion that current/existing cameras in the city are not well utilized as they are not always monitored 
• some residents feeling that RPD officers are dismissive of their concerns when they call
• a strong desire for ANSWERS and SOLUTIONS to concerns

Some responses from the Mayor/Chief:

• loitering is not against the law so the police cannot simply stop people from being on public sidewalks
• there are laws about gambling establishments and this is something that can be acted on
• citizens are asked to contact the CPO's re: delayed police calls (specifics needed) so this can be followed up on and addressed
• there are a small number of individuals committing the really violent crimes in our neighborhood
• the court system is part of the problem with smaller/less violent criminals not being held accountable for crimes
• the cameras might solve one problem but create another (the bad guys just move to a different area)
• RPD will develop an action plan to do "something different" in PLEX and it will happen within the next 48 hours

John, Marian and Joan may want to add some of their own notes to these as they were also at the meeting.

The issues related to the 19th Ward's recent crimes were not discussed and while I wanted to raise them I was mindful that this meeting was specifically organized for PLEX residents. BUT.... the general themes are the same as those i hear in the 19th Ward. The difference, in my opinion, is that the PLEX neighborhood association is much more organized, vocal and assertive about the crime issues and insisting on a clear response from the City.

I

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