Keller, who has been a proponent of moving the police station from 30 Belvidere St. to Church and Center streets, said the robbery proves a downtown police station does not necessarily deter crime.It is evident by these comments that the Mayor is not willing to open his mind or attempt to understand the issues raised by the community as it relates to the new government center proposal.
"Our response time is three minutes anywhere in the borough," Keller said. "So much for downtown police presence being an anchor for the downtown."
Every town center/central district has "anchor" locations. These are sites around which other businesses and shops are built and thrive, and where events and activities flourish. This central area, set around its anchors, is where residents walk, shop, do business, and eat.
Imagine downtown Nazareth without:
- The Canon or the Circle.
- The Post Office.
- The Moravian Church.
- The YMCA.
- The Library.
- The Whitefield House and Grey Cottage.
- The Borough Administration and Police Station.
Our local parks serve as commons for the neighborhoods that make up the borough, and the Borough Park is a place for all. These are the places where we meet to recreate. To play basketball, watch our children swing or go down a slide. These areas are as important to the neighborhoods as the anchors are to the downtown.
No one can claim that a police presence stops crime, but I think you'd be hard pressed to argue the fact that a police presence deters crime to a greater extent than not having a presence at all.
If you visit New York City today, in midtown you will see a police presence on what seems like every corner. This is critical to the city following 9-11, but even before that happened it was critical to converting the Times Square area from the cesspool it had become into a vibrant tourist friendly area. In the 1980s there never would have been a Toys R Us located there, too many junkies and hookers would have made it difficult to attract families. Today it is a destination point for many visitors. A police presence makes a difference, and if you don't believe in that, you have neither respect, nor confidence in your department's ability or authority.
I'm now more glad than ever that he doesn't have a vote and I hope those that do will be open to understand and discuss alternate viewpoints.
What do you think of the Mayor's remarks? Is it irrelevant what is in the downtown? Does this robbery demonstrate any cause and effect? Is there any correlation whatsoever between being a downtown anchor and the crime rate (I don't think so)? Are you as concerned as I am about the lack of his willingness to be open-minded and consider these concepts fairly?
8 comments:
Wow, Ross, we must have been typing at the exact same time! My comments on this subject, which are along the same line as yours, can be found in the comments section of your "Downtown Bank Robbery" blog entry.
Has he solved the great Nazareth tire slashing caper yet? Remember, expansion foes are supposedly behind that, or so he claims without one iota of evidence. Now that over a month has passed since he first made his accusation, I'd like him to explain himself. In his eyes, everything is an argument for a relocation, even a bank robbery.
Actually, I posted them in under the wrong blog entry. That was dumb of me. Maybe the mayor and I went to the same school. My comments are under the "Nazareth School Board Meeting 8/28/06" blog. (Not enough coffee yet this morning)
Relocated to save you the grief of doing it yourself:
The paper boy said...
"Keller, who has been a proponent of moving the police station from 30 Belvidere St. to Church and Center streets, said the robbery proves a downtown police station does not necessarily deter crime.
Our response time is three minutes anywhere in the borough," Keller said. "So much for downtown police presence being an anchor for the downtown."
The citizen's point is not that the downtown building would deter crime. It is that a beautiful, renovated building in the downtown would be a pillar of downtown revitalization. This mayor still does not get it...so stuborn. And to take a dig at the Nazareth citizens in a public newspaper about a topic that is unrelated to the robbery...simply deplorable. I am sad that all of the action and oposition that the citizens have displayed clearly has not swayed the mayor at all. I guess I should get my house on the market now, before the parking lot goes in across the street...
8:30 AM
You know the saying "you get what you pay for"? Well, I guess you get what you vote for! We got Keller.
Maybe he would think about not needing a police dept because after all they couldn't stop the robbery or at the very least couldn't catch the guys.
What kind of police presence is there now daily within the downtown? Is this done by patroling in a car? As a kid you always saw such policemen Like John Macy,Asher Hahn,Reese or Caddy Jones walking around town and communicating with the townfolk. Being further away such as Church and Center would not make for Police presence that would be noted as much.Maybe a policemen on foot would have deterred any Bank Robber.
You can see the policeman interacting with a hoagie if you go to Pizza Joe's, Mivajos, or Joe's Steak shop. They seem to prefer establishments with a derivative of Jo in it. I might open a place called JoJo's and maybe they will come every night.
Oh, and what ever happened to that part-time cop that had people steal lobsters for him?
And I hear the chick on the force just rear ended a van. What an awesome force!
I fortunately don't have to have too many interactions with our police force as it relates to their work.
As recently noted I did call in regard to an issue and the officer seemed like a good person to me.
I also know some of our police and they too are good people.
I don't think it is fair to criticize them for either the robbery, the mayor's comments, or their assignments (car vs. beat or bike).
I think it is important that they are supported and respected. They give an awful lot to do their job and you'd be hard pressed to call Nazareth crime-ridden.
Because of the uniform they stand out, and you may notice them here or there, but unless your an employee of the "jo" establishments you mention, aren't you having lunch as often as they are;-)
There was no fault by the police, no need to beat them up.
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