Public Safety
Note: See my full column on public safety in the Signal opinion section, March 16, or online at the Signal’s website.
Law Enforcement
At $16 million, our contract for Sheriff’s services is second only to our Parks and Rec. budget of $19.6 million. This $16 million appropriation for law enforcement affords us the protections offered by 178 outstanding full-time officers serving our community. I want to go on record in support of the efforts of these great people. They’re currently crammed into a facility that was built to serve a population of about 70,000.
I will work with the county and other agencies to develop a new sheriff’s station and also a sheriff’s sub-station for the east side of the valley. (Green built.)
We have to ensure that the number of Sheriff’s deputies and patrol cars we have on the streets keeps up with the growth of our community.
I will continue efforts to fight gangs and graffiti so they will never consume our communities. We might consider raising the punishments and/or fines for graffiti violations. The parents of minors should be held responsible. This is a great place to live and I intend to keep it that way.
Creating Public Safety
But public safety is more than law enforcement or fire fighting. We must create safety in other ways:
I will work to make sure that our roads are pedestrian and driver-friendly. We need to look at lowering speed limits on certain roads and providing pedestrian “islands” on thoroughfares.
I will encourage development that builds safety into the design of the project.
I will promote creative development such as mixed-use projects, which allow for various uses and the public visibility that comes with those uses. Visibility helps to protect neighborhoods, parks and businesses. (Think neighborhood watch in both public and private areas.)
I hope this answers your question. If you would like to discuss this further, please call me at (661) 310-3654.
Diane Trautman
