Miami City Hall filled up last night with irate Coconut Grove neighbors, many who have recently been burglarized, due to the shortage of police officers in the area. The chambers were so full that people sat on the floor, just so they could fit in, others trickled out the glass doors.
Mayor Tomas Regalado, District 2 Commissioner Marc Sarnoff and a slew of police officers spoke about the problem, along with the neighbors who have suffered. Each had a turn at the podium.
1,144 police officers cover the City of Miami, many feel that is not enough. The figure remains the same all these years, so as population grew, the police force did not. The Mayor says that to hire 100 more officers, which is Comm. Sarnoff's wish, would cost the city an additional $10 million, which it does not have.
In about a week, two more new officers will patrol the Grove. Is this enough?
In the end, as usual, most of it fell on deaf ears. What was the final solution? I don't think the neighbors were satisfied at the conclusion of the meeting.
A few people suggested private patrols like neighborhoods like Bay Heights has. This is where the neighbors tax themselves to pay for the patrols overnight or whenever needed. There are patrol cars and guards on the streets then.
Also, license plate check points, or cameras that take pictures of each license plate that enters a neighborhood is an idea. That's all well and good, but it won't get the people on foot and on bicycle. Speaking of bicycles, a friend of mine who rides his bicycle and doesn't have a car, wanted to attend the meeting but was concerned about leaving his bicycle outside City Hall while the meeting was going on. He didn't want to return and see it had been stolen. Talk about the icing on the cake.
I invited him to attend with me, by car, but he declined. That's another way theft has effected a way of life. You can't even be comfortable riding and parking your bicycle.
No comments:
Post a Comment