Let's start with the premise that crime is not acceptable. That should be stressed no matter the seriousness of it. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, New York City stepped up enforcement of petty crimes - like littering and graffiti - in an effort to stop more serious crime. Why? Because if you aren't dealing with petty crimes, they quickly can escalate to serious crime. Lack of enforcement can also reinforce an image that the police and community are soft on crime.
We need to trust our law enforcement officials in changing police beats and coverage to address changing crime trends and areas. They are professionals and every day they help prevent and solve crimes. These are rarely recognized by newspapers or the media in general. With that said, we should also demand excellence and accountability from them. This is especially true in reaction to the crime on the south side. I support councilmember Hontos' request for an action plan from the police chief.
Our community must work, in partnership, to educate people and recognize that we are all a part of fighting crime. The community can help make policing much more proactive. We all need to look out for each other and do what we can to stay out of potentially dangerous situations.
Finally, we need to enforce our laws and deal with petty criminals. We need to let our community know that we are serious about fighting crime.
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