Public Safety Group - May 7

A City That Works - May 7
Public Safety Discussion Group at Perzel Community Center

Eight people from Mayfair and Holmesburg had clear opinions on public safety and many related issues. They wanted well-equipped police visibility (seen as sufficient evidence that crime was addressed and reduced), better stewardship of the recreation programs and facilities, better EMT training and service, and better use of the prisons. Their focus was the Northeast in particular (including the parks), rather than the city as a whole.  There was great rapport in the small-group discussions as they addressed traffic issues on the Boulevard, drug trade, the effects of poor sanitation pickups, and lack of published information about the progress of city responses to their concerns.

What does this goal mean to you?

• Two cops per police car.

• All cars driveable.

• Reduce prison overcrowding.

• Reduction in crime numbers.

• Eliminate automatic assault weapons.

• Prosecute for nonreport of theft of guns.

• Vehicles that can go into parks.

• Better equipment.

• More police visibility.

• Mounted police in the parks.

• No tinted car windows – should be able to see the driver.

• Right turn on red issues.(Boulevard and elsewhere).

• No handheld cell phones while driving.

• Bikes and Segways for cops.

• Children at schools should see police presence.

• Noise from car radios stopped.

• Fix recreation centers – show respect for children.

• Go out at 3 a.m. and not get mugged.

• Identify drug houses – get at drug system.

• Fire Department – more EMT training.

Performance measures

• Recreation centers: published list of work orders accomplished.

• Accessible progress reports from Police Department.

• Local and city newspapers should publish crime statistics.

• Boulevard cameras – again, publish statistics: Monthly costs and accident numbers, fines collected and going where?

• Identify and count drug houses: Report closings; identify buyers (local? Bucks County? N.J.?)

• Consolidate and report drug statistics and enforcement:  city, county, state, federal

• EMT calls – reduction in non-emergency calls: Redirect and fine/charge for repeats.

• Guns – recreation center PR campaign against guns: Start young, and this should be citywide, not just neighborhood-based.

• Reduction in prison population: Lower the percentage of nonviolent prisoners.

• Educate in schools about real results of violence: Real bullet wounds, not like TV and video games.

• City (Fire Department) contract with ambulance providers for EMT