Safety for All
Safety is so often viewed through the eyes of crime rates and the size of police forces. Yet, these are only two parts of a wider picture that truly determines just how safe a location is. Of course data and adequate numbers and resources in the numbers of people that are assigned to take the lead in fighting crime and being a enforcer of laws are important, safety it self comes down to one question. What makes a person feel safe enough to commit a crime to a person in a location? This question lets us view the perpetrator, the victim, the location, and the time in a way where we make strategic changes that make crimes harder to commit, make it more likely that we arrest and prosecute a suspect and reduce a person chances of becoming a victim. Some times these are easy fixes such as adding lighting, installing cameras, stepping up a patrol and asking questions to strange characters who begin to appear locally. Other times its much harder in removing vacated and code problem ridden properties that serve as hang outs for criminals, targeting groups that turn crime into a enterprise, re developing the face of neighborhoods so they no longer seem to be claimed by crime and disorder. We need a government that is willing to take action, call wrong people out and upon finding out information do something with it. Yes, there is a time for job training and development, but first ensure that crime is not the most prevalent option. We must keep in mind that every criminal until arrested and proven guilty is a citizen of our city, there is no boundary between those who do good and bad but opportunity and choice. If they chose to cross that line, we must also chose to hold them accountable and do what ever we must do to ensure that the people who make the right choice are protected and can rely on our backing no matter what enemy they face.