Spawned on by current news reports, I am presenting this paper to you, the general public - a blueprint for eliminating crime in Roanoke, and freeing up more money to fight crime.
We have all seen the storys about the crime rate being high in Roanoke, so high infact that we rank 2nd behind Richmond as being a dangerous city. Then follows the news reports of botched robberies at gas stations, narcotics sweeps through Old SW, and other assorted miscreant activites.
I'm calling bunk.
And the City Council's take on it? Well, there really has not been one. With the exception of the alleged gangs moving into Roanoke, the city council has been quiet when it comes to crime. They seem to leave the crime problem to the Roanoke City Police Department - who do a venerable job in protecting and serving. But there's a different approach than being in reaction-mode in respect to crime, drugs, and neighborhood quality of life.
I'd like to introduce you to
Jack Maple. Jack was a dyed-in-the-wool cop. He revolutionzed the NYPD, and created a model for Police Departments worldwide.
He argued, correctly I may say, that the root causes of crime were not social - they were criminal. Criminals to be specific. Running the gamut from simple petty offenses to major drug trafficers - Maple had an answer for it. Treat each criminal the same, each crime the same. As a crime, and as we were all taught in school - crime is bad. I firmly believe there is no such thing as a "good" crime, I do believe there are some which are questionable in deed and reason, but a crime is a crime is a crime. Nothing will change the fact that in some way, the law was broken. That is all the police need to know. Let the judges handle the rest.
Maple was notorious for making each and every cop responsible in some way for the crime in his precinct. I believe this is the beginning, accountability. But I would like to extend it beyond the precinct walls. I say we hold every citizen accountable.
Remember - you either own or rent someplace to live. You want it to be a nice place, one you need not worry about. One where you do not have to worry about having your rims stolen, your mailbox blown up (I remember being a kid), your window broken, your house broken into, your corner store robbed....
You want nice things, you have to work for nice things. You want a nice community, you have to work for a nice community.
In other words - if we stop accepting the little things, littering - grafitti - run-down housing - barren lots filled with garbage: The big things will get a bit easier to deal with, in the long run.
It's the same as setting an example. You show that you and your street will not accept a bunch of garbage from people, will not stand for a landlord to keep his property in ruins, you'll see change immediately.
Remember, theres more decent folks than there are criminals everywhere. All you have to do is stand up and prove it. And in this day of the internet, digital cameras, and DIY media - it would be easy to publicize that crack house down the street. Very easy. It would also be easy to call out those lovely absentee landlords. Just keep publicizing, posting flyers, the whole 9 yards. Help the current tennents find more suitable housing. In short, evacuate the property.
This program is an extention of Operation Broken Windows, one which worked extremely well in New York City.
On the Police end, it's even more powerful. Can't catch the dealers selling, but you know who they are? Well - you know what kind of car they drive. Is it running fully legal? Many states have laws against anything hanging from your rear-view mirror. Rarely ever enforced, but it could be. Anything to harass and annoy the dealers out of town. The NYPD instituted an automatic warrant check on anyone being written a ticket, held as a suspect, or found somehow outside the law. It netted more career criminals in one year under Op. Broken Windows than in the previous 3 years.
You could sum up the total point of Op. Broken Windows as "Annoy them, and they will leave."
And yes that does mean everyone would be subject to following the same set of laws. Tinted windows, miscolored lighting on the car (I've seen it), anything that would violate some statute of the law.
Same goes for your housing. If you and your neighbors can band together to keep the block looking nice, it will be tougher on the one duplex that looks like garbage. Especially when you start hitting him with code violations.
I would like to see a PD, a FD, and an EMT living on every street. I propose tax breaks and other incentives for city personnel who want to buy and live in the city.
I also propose a "commuter tax" of sorts, collecting a .35% tax on gross income of those who work, but do not live in the city. That money will be earmarked specifically for projects which affect those who work in the city. Infrastructure upgrades, road maintenance, Police-Fire-EMS, public works basically. Things anyone might need or use.
And for a brief moment, people will be angry. But if you make $100,000, thats only $350 extra in taxes you pay. And you will see absolutely where your money goes. If you figure on average, each person contributing roughly $100 to the budget - Your looking at over $1 million each year for public works projects. That translates to cleaner roads, better paved roads, enhanced lighting and signage. Direct change will be noticeable after the first year of collecting the commuter tax. And for each additional year, any overage that is not used by the end of the fiscal year will be placed in an interest-bearing account and used for projects to better the entire Roanoke Valley. Like a new ampitheatre or stadium or some such thing.
No monies will be spent on single-use projects, and no monies will go to city-only expenditure. This will eliminate from the city budget road construction projects and other similar issues.
Putting an end to the budget shortfalls for infrastructure and modernizing the way the city operates in relation to the surrounding areas. When the City is strong, the region benefits.
And thats what this is all about, putting an end to the pratices of the past. Revamping the structure of the city as a business, and getting on with the city being a city. Putting to rest the quality-of-life issues that have plagued this city for years.
And as for the airport, thats a whole other matter entirely.
Thank you for your time.
Elect me as Overlord, and evolve.
