Public Safety Group - May 9

A City That Works - May 9
Public Safety Discussion Group at Klein JCC

A highly energized group of about 12 seniors had a lot to say about traffic safety from the pedestrian point of view, as well as their fear of crime. This fear has curtailed both their use of SEPTA and their ability to walk around their neighborhoods (Bustleton, East Mount Airy). Quite a few people spoke with pent-up irritation, which slowly dissipated as their comments took shape on paper. Some complaints (such as language problems in local hospitals and care centers that compromised good care) were not within the control of City Hall, but that did not dampen the vigor with which they were expressed. These seniors were clear about many of their needs, cautious in their hopes of seeing anything happen, and determined to get their views heard.

What does this goal mean to you?

• Crossing street safely all the time; “Green light  lasts only 12 seconds!”

• Street curbing repaired; current curbing is no good for pedestrians using walkers; (complaints go unaddressed…)

• Walk through neighborhood safely even after dark.

• Federal government limits on manufacture of guns.

• Kids in school until 18 years old; drop-outs kept in detention centers.

• Higher age for driver’s license for teenagers; address teenage drunken drivers.

• Fire Department should help in installing smoke alarms (can’t reach ceilings).

• Police outgunned by criminals; how to protect from assault rifles?

• Concern about police brutality. (Three people beaten, as seen on TV video.)

• Probation issues: make it work well.

• Want to go downtown without needing two people to protect me on the El.

• Enforce parking rules: parking wrong direction on wrong side of street, then driving off,  threatens pedestrians.

• El:  They want to travel easily without fear.

• Left-turn driving problems:  Need more left turn arrows.

• Address threatening young neighbors; drugs and graffiti law enforcement.

• Enforce speed limits.

Performance measures

• Fewer murders – 70% reduction.

• Traffic  lights: larger lights; longer yellows; right-turn protection for pedestrians; more turn arrows for drivers.

• Parking rules enforced – correct side, correct direction.

• Timed lights on Bustleton Avenue.  (Slower traffic goes to side streets – safer for pedestrians.)

• Raise drivering age to 18.

• Retest drivers older than 70.

• New Juvenile Center – better treatment and education.

• Educate teens in ‘life skills’ – budgeting, writing checks, job applying skills.

• More police patrolling streets on foot and bike.

• More town-watch groups.

• Random drug and alcohol testing in schools; treatment programs.

• More police on SEPTA – feel safe on El.

• Cameras and direct communication with police on SEPTA vehicles and walkways.

• Enforce  curfew for children and teenagers.

Customer Service Standards

• ‘311’ works – live person answers, here in Philadelphia, not India; with ‘tracking numbers’ and ‘call-back-by’ dates.

• More police on streets rather than funds for casinos and stadiums.

• City fixes and reports back on fixing problems of street surfaces, traffic  lights, speeding, parking, trash pick-up.

• Streets Department: Saturday Clean-up Days four times a year.