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  State of Emergency
June 20, 2005
 

As the drumbeat for a STATE OF EMERGENCY continues to sound in Richmond, I thought I would share the responses from the June 17, 2005, TOM BUTT E-FORUM: HOMICIDE RATE FALLS, STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED.

Since June 17, there have been three additional homicides in Richmond, bringing the statistical annualized total 5% above 2004 and 5% less than 2003.

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Mr  Butt............as usual with your editorials, I agree with some of your views and disagree with others.  I agree that some of your colleagues holding a news conference regarding a "state of emergency" could cause prospective investors and businesses from shying away from Richmond.  However, I believe this city has been in a state of emergency for some time now.  This latest barrage of shootings and killings only magnify the gravity of the situation.

You may want to consider what the long term ramifications will be to find 50 police officers that the city is currently without.  It takes at least ONE YEAR to actually have a police officer on duty patrolling.  A lengthy process includes a submitted application, a background check, a police academy and then a field training program.  And anywhere along the way, that candidate could be washed out for any number of reasons.  Coupled with the fact that other agencies are also fishing from a smaller pond, it makes the task that much more daunting.  I read a recent article that Los Angeles PD and the L.A. Sheriff are both looking to hire close to 2,000 new cops.  LAPD has made an "info-mercial" that is running in movie theaters during promos in southern California to help with recruiting.

So what is Richmond up against.  You have the perception of a violence crisis viewed by most of the residents in the city.  In response to the violence, 2 violence suppression teams were formed to help combat the problem.  In the mean time those officers were taken off of their respective patrol shifts.  You also have a dormant traffic unit with motorcycles parked at the police department collecting dust.  You currently have other specialized units within the department that are not fully staffed.  Why??? well because the city is less 50 cops.

With that said..........you have to recruit, and you want the best.  But who wants to work in a busy, violent city where the police are not be properly compensated?  I do believe Richmond was the most violent city in California based on recent crime statistics.  Its dollars and "sense".  I agree with you that Richmond crime data should be compared to other cities..........as should the pay and compensation Richmond Police Officers receive.  The police are at the bottom of their pay/compensation survey comparing them to other police departments.  So how do you convince someone to work in Richmond ????  Good question............Do you know that a local police academy asked that Richmond not show up to recruit???  WHY????........the recruits voted and were not interested in Richmond PD.  So what is Richmond potentially left with ???? The bottom of the barrel when it comes to prospective police officers.  As a resident of Richmond, I'm not ok with that.

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Rec'd your e-forum on the homicide rate and the hysterical cry for the declaration of a state of emergency.  I could not agree more with everything you said in this particular e-forum.  I am out on the streets of Santa Fe policing activity there every day; however, I feel totally alone.  People are afraid to get involved.  Fear keeps them trapped in their homes and forces them to turn a blind eye and deaf ear to what goes on.  Until people get some balls (excuse the crudeness, please) and backup from others, nothing will change.  I get called all kinds of unrepeatable names in my neighborhood, but it does not deter me one iota.  Now, my neighborhood knuckleheads know if I see it, it WILL be reported and PD WILL come.  I do not stand idly by.  I refuse to surrender my hard-earned home and neighborhood to a few troublemakers who seem to be holding the rest of the area hostage.  Let me just add that I call PD a lot, and they have NEVER failed to show up.

I cannot tell you how many people passed by the Iron Triangle substation Saturday as I was organizing the Juneteenth parade and said they'd love to come, but are afraid to stay out too long or be in crowds because of the recent violence.  It truly was a sad commentary on the perceived state of our city.

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Dear Council Members,  WHY is a 14 year old boy out at 4 AM in the most dangerous city in the County?  WHY are young men with criminal records, carrying guns and fathering children they will never care for ,still called "babies" by their hapless families? WHY do religious groups think gambling casinos, police on every corner, and prayer breakfasts will solve the violence in Richmond? Gang members live somewhere...are fed, clothed and enabled by adults who lack the will or energy to take responsibility for the behavior of their chidren. The obnoxious and manipulative nonsequitor "give me a job and I'll put down the gun" just illustrates the gross failure to take responsibility for one's actions.

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Dear Councilman Butt,

I appreciate your email newsletters.  I purchased a home in the NE part of  Richmond 5 years ago and have been happy with my decision to move to Richmond.

However since returning from a visit to the east coast yesterday I have become quite concerned about the future of Richmond upon learning of the "state of emergency".  How could anyone in city government consider that declaring a state of emergency regarding homicides actually help our city? 

I am now seriously concerned about the damage to Richmond's already very tarnished image, concerned about property values, concerned about the effects upon much needed new development.  And just on a day to day basis, my friends from other areas are now saying, "Is it still safe to visit?"  Even my brother from New York has heard the news and is wondering if it is still safe to bring his two daughters to my house for a visit in August.

I am extremely dismayed and am wondering if there is any way to overcome Richmond's negative image as long as there are city "leaders" who would act in a way that bolsters and intensifies this negative image. 

I would like to know who the people are that decided on this course of action and I would like to personally let them know my concerns. 

Would you be so kind as to send me their names and contact information.  Or feel free to pass this email on.  Meanwhile I need to think about whether now is the time to consult with a real estate broker.

Yours truly,

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Mr. Butt, as a native and current resident of this still wonderful city.  I am in total and complete agreement to this e-mail.  I love Richmond and I have reaped a huge benefit for myself and my children, since being born and raised here.  I have children who have gone on to college in the UC system, children who are aspiring artist as a result of the Richmond Art Center, and another child who is an upcoming “Opera Singer”.  These are all products of Richmond.  I am so very proud to say that I am from Richmond, and I encourage my children to have the same positive attitude about their town, of which I constantly stay involved in to help make it better!  Thanks for this article, its good to know that someone else feels as I do.  Keep up the good work, and keep the e-mails coming, I really do enjoy reading and responding to them.

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Bravo, bravo, bravo. As you may know, a group of us have been working on this problem for some time...but got distracted with the City's financial problems. We read the Broken Windows book for a starter, and other matters since. I won't review our unfortunate history  (from my perspective) but some are still interested, including ________, who is now heading RNCC, and might be persuaded to do some leadership in that role, and ________________, who was responsible for our group's forming. Can't we all collaborate? North and East isn't a high crime area, but it is being degraded by moderate "broken windows" problems: boomboxers, whistling tailpipes, litter (some of it major) vandalism, and even now a couple of shooting, loud parties which intrude on neighbors' peace, etc. It's a question whether the high real estate prices will drive these people out; oddly, they seem to be increasing. But in the long run, stable law-abiding residents like myself will be driven out. I've lived here 15 years and am just about out of patience, looking for a place to move to while thinking/hoping it might get better. Your support would be so welcome!

Thanks,

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Dear Tom, 

Yes, this media coverage is ridiculous and I am not surprised that the facts are what they are. 

What can be done about the news? Can someone contact the local news and state just what you said below?  There can be made a strong case that these kind of negative stories not only lead to more crime but contribute to a  community's feeling of powerlessness, depression, and individuals giving up pride in their community. 

This kind of press is destructive to those of us who live and take pride in Richmond. 

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Tom:

Why not declare a state of emergency?  If crime is trending down anyway, let's give it a good push and rid our city of the remaining worst offenders. 

As far as a State of Emergency impacting investment in Richmond, that cat is way out of that bag.  A big push and a declaration of success will do the City a lot of good in the long run.  When's the last time you heard about problems in East Palo Alto?

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Great stuff Tom Butt.

You are finally coming around - after a very late start...

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Excellent, Tom!

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Dear Councilmember Butt, It seems to me that we in Richmond are missing a great opportunity!  Here we have a growth industry - housing.  Why hasn't the City made it a condition of developing here in Richmond to hire a minimum percentage of unskilled labor from the City's unemployed in the endangered areas - like the Iron Triangle.  During summers particularly, high school juniors and senior students can be employed  - providing they have no police record, are not on drugs, etc.  with a certain percentage or number of them able to qualify for apprenticeship in the trades  following graduation if they work dilengently.  Same with those in their 20s and 30s.

  The City must provide SOME INCENTIVE for the hopeless to have some hope - and some future.  People without hope are those who find themselves either using drugs or selling them - or both.  Or they steal, rob and/or kill.

Giving folks a better future can do a lot in the way of eliminating crime. Starting with the Iron Triangle, I'd  also like to see more Habitat for Humanity housing renovation.  It's another way of providing some HOPE for those who have little (hope and future).  Sincerely,

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Tom:

Without sounding too negative, I would like see you present your position to those families that have lost loved ones to firearm violence. I haven't seen you at community meetings where this matter has been talked about over and over. And, where the public has been requesting proactive action. I wish you would step forward with your great ideas and statistics, instead of sounding critical after the fact.

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A fine analysis, Tom. Hope it cuts through the hysteria.  I'm somewhat surprised at some of the councilmembers giving in to it.   I Attended the summit on June 4th and was surprised at the lack of imagination in seeking new alternatives to old ineffectual ways of coping -- and the growing signs of a kind of "celebration of death" as represented by those deadly tee shirts on which is emblazoned "don't let your next family reunion be held at the cemetery."  It's a short step between that and the far wiser approach of simply replacing the negative with positives.  I'll celebrate the day that I see the names of local Merit Scholars posted on that marquis at the civic center and lit up brightly for all to see -- or the logos of our winning young sports competitors strung across downtown intersections.  We need to change the rules of the game.  Youngsters in this town have no way to see what it is that we want from them.  We continually reward violent behavior with focused public attention.  Could we not begin to send some different signals? 

There are ways to reward achievement rather than to constantly damn the deplorable in ourselves and our children.  If it is true, as I believe, that we create our own reality, then Richmond has it within its power to create change.  The city of Berkeley is less what was when I was child than it is what a critical mass of political progressives believed it to be -- and made it so by so believing.  We can do the same, but only if we give up the need to crawl around the gutters on our hands and knees looking for spent cartridges instead of looking up at the sky for the brightly-colored kites!  It may be all in our point of view.  Both are quite real.  We simply have to make the choice and begin to live by it.

Just a thought.

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Thank you Councilmember Butt

 thank you

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Finally, some sanity.  I think Maria has lost her mind.... or she's trying to run for Mayor on Murder.  It's a terrible thing for a politician with ambition to attempt to declare martial law in all black neighborhoods when she lives in a gated community.  It's sickening. In fact, I wrote a letter to the WC Times about it.   Thanks for this, Tom. 

Nice Piece Tom.  Impressed with the time you take to do such a thorough job.  While I like your suggestions to improve the situation,  I think equally important is the Infrastructure that will allow recreation centers and library's and even youth centers to be available in neighborhoods which could also help organize them to live more peacefully with one another.

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Dear Mr. Butt:

I am outraged, to say the least! Spending 2million just for more policing is absurd, comparable with putting a small bandage on a shotgun wound.

Maybe it would help to force those, who voted for this "money-waste", to live for a week, or better for one month in the BEAT 2 or BEAT 6 area, so they would learn what's really needed to stop crime.

What we need is crime prevention and that starts with getting rid of the "Broken Window Syndrome", clean neighborhoods and sufficient streetlight, community policing, in other words, "cover the well before the baby fell in, don't busy yourself spending money for equipments you need, once the baby fell in and is about to drown".

The city's Housing Authorities has to cleanup their act and manage the city owned properties, as expected by any privately owned property!

These are the issues that needed to be addressed in order to prevent crime.

Sincerely,

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Well done.

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....there is one portion-bottom sentence(s)- of the 'Broken window'

Window, with the stats., that is

missing.

Thank you...It's a "keeper",

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Councilman Butt, as you point out the city has an obvious image problem and has since women wore gloves to Macys in downtown ,something I remember, and its current image problems continue because no one seems to understand the use and application of the proper way to handle the media, and to release information in a timely and appropriate way, for the advantage of our city. It is all well and good to lay these things at the door of the Mayors office, something that certainly would seem to be that offices duty to perform, and I would agree; but pointing fingers doesn't make the dog hunt.  What we need is an image make-over and the only way to do that is to systematically decide what we want our image to be, choose a plan to perform that task, and to implement that plan. All the willy-nilly happy speak and fancy slogans, good lord "pride and purpose" I thought I would lose my lunch when I heard that drek, in the world will not work, pandering for votes by some, and sardonic attitudes by others will do NOTHING! and clearly hoping for some change through the elective process has yielded no obvious results. This leaves us with a few logical choices to consider. 1. That we hire a public relations firm to advise us, a hard sell considering the state of the budget. 2. That we form yet another committee of council members to "Study" the problem, well we know how that will work do we not ? 3. That we use existing city staff to address the problem, something that even a Pollyanna couldn't continence. 4. That we do nothing and continue with the status quo and hope for the best and expect the least, something that we are already doing.  I have a few suggestions other than these, why not ask the people? Let's go to the people, after all Richmond was built by business and professional people volunteering their own time to do good works an idea that has been done and can be done again. I myself have received dozens of newsletters from you in just a few months and as far as memory serves and none of them ask me to do anything but go to a concert or dinner. Ask us. Encourage us. The people only need to have the need pointed out to them and given a direction to go and they will go!  Let us look to other cities that have been in the same state and see what has worked for them. To re-invent the wheel every time something needs to be done seems to be the only way our city understands to do anything. A great redundant waste. Let's ask the young people, and I mean older students, many will give silly answers that can't be done, or may seem so, but if one or two or ten come up with something, it has cost us nothing and we have gained the participation of our youth and fostered a sense of community in them at least. Let's ask the old-timers they have been there before. Is there perhaps not some wunder-kinder among the college students interested in public relations who wouldn't like a project ? or perhaps a classroom full of them ? These are the types of things that just in the doing gets us what we want positive press. Is there no one who has the time to lobby for the city with the press in Richmond? We have thousands of retired people who, if asked, would leap at the chance they only need direction. Ask the people they will respond. They all feel as if there is nothing within their ability to do so they do nothing. This missive is long enough and I hope I made my point so I will close with this, leadership is what we cry for in this city and we get leaders from followers at first, give them a direction and someone comes to the front of the bunch every time, 

 

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