By Richard Keem:
Rewind back to Buffalo in 1991. The Buffalo Bills were in their first Super Bowl, Pat Lafontaine was playing for the Sabres, OJ Simpson, Gil Perreault, Bob Lanier & Warren Spahn were inducted into the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, Goldome bank was liquidated, Jimmy Griffin was Mayor, David Franczyk was (and still is) on the Common Council and Bob Delano was indicted. Nationally in 1991, George H. W. Bush was president, our military was overseas for Operation Desert Storm and a first class stamp only cost $0.25 ($0.27 after February 1991). In the arts world, Kurt Cobain was rocking it for Nirvana and Silence of the Lambs was the movie of the year. Internationally, USSR was in political unrest, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned and USSR was dissolved. 1991 was also the last time the City did an exhaustive review and strategy on how to better protect the public safety.
A lot has changed over the last 19 years.
Michael Kearns, Michael LoCurto, David Rivera, Curtis Haynes, Jr., Richard Fontana and David Franczyk are looking to create an improved strategy on public safety. The results back in 1991 of the Police Reorganization Commission (PRC) consolidated the City's 14 precincts into 5 police districts. This was proposed to increase police presence; increase neighborhood orientated policing and reduce geographical boundaries, ultimately improving public safety. The document released by the Common Council states "Nearly 20 years have passed since the PRC released The Police Commission Report. Over this time, the population and demographics of the City of Buffalo have changed and the field of law-enforcement has undergone major advances, particularly in terms of available technology."
This PRC is set to consist of twelve members, 5 appointed by Mayor Brown, 5 appointed by the Common Council and 2 appointed by Buffalo Police Benevolent Association. The main objective of the PRC is to research best practices and create a stronger public safety strategy utilizing limited resources.
Friction at City Hall
This PRC is sure to get some friction from the Brown administration. The mayor has dabbled in public safety since he took over. Incidents such as Byron Jr's joy ride, SWAT team's presence at Canisius' end of the year party, the Leonard Stokes incident, friction with Patricia Parete about medical bills after suffering a life changing injury on-duty, removal of H. McCarty Gipson, demotion of Donna Berry and the national search for a police commissioner. All of these scandals have had an impact on the public image of our community, but we often overlook the impact this has on the morale of our team on the street. Something must explain our 100+ officers injured on duty.
On the other side of the coin, is the Common Council out to get back at the Mayor with this PRC? Should we expect another review in 2029? According to Fillmore District Council Member Franczyk, "20 years later, it's time to take another look."
Moving forward
As a concerned citizen, the most important duty for the government is to provide public safety. By reviewing the best practices of other government entities and exploration of technological advances, this is a great opportunity to create a positive strategy for preventing, reducing and solving crime in our city. Next time, let's not wait 19 years to rethink things.
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Rewind back to Buffalo in 1991. The Buffalo Bills were in their first Super Bowl, Pat Lafontaine was playing for the Sabres, OJ Simpson, Gil Perreault, Bob Lanier & Warren Spahn were inducted into the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, Goldome bank was liquidated, Jimmy Griffin was Mayor, David Franczyk was (and still is) on the Common Council and Bob Delano was indicted. Nationally in 1991, George H. W. Bush was president, our military was overseas for Operation Desert Storm and a first class stamp only cost $0.25 ($0.27 after February 1991). In the arts world, Kurt Cobain was rocking it for Nirvana and Silence of the Lambs was the movie of the year. Internationally, USSR was in political unrest, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned and USSR was dissolved. 1991 was also the last time the City did an exhaustive review and strategy on how to better protect the public safety.
A lot has changed over the last 19 years.
Michael Kearns, Michael LoCurto, David Rivera, Curtis Haynes, Jr., Richard Fontana and David Franczyk are looking to create an improved strategy on public safety. The results back in 1991 of the Police Reorganization Commission (PRC) consolidated the City's 14 precincts into 5 police districts. This was proposed to increase police presence; increase neighborhood orientated policing and reduce geographical boundaries, ultimately improving public safety. The document released by the Common Council states "Nearly 20 years have passed since the PRC released The Police Commission Report. Over this time, the population and demographics of the City of Buffalo have changed and the field of law-enforcement has undergone major advances, particularly in terms of available technology."
This PRC is set to consist of twelve members, 5 appointed by Mayor Brown, 5 appointed by the Common Council and 2 appointed by Buffalo Police Benevolent Association. The main objective of the PRC is to research best practices and create a stronger public safety strategy utilizing limited resources.
Friction at City Hall
This PRC is sure to get some friction from the Brown administration. The mayor has dabbled in public safety since he took over. Incidents such as Byron Jr's joy ride, SWAT team's presence at Canisius' end of the year party, the Leonard Stokes incident, friction with Patricia Parete about medical bills after suffering a life changing injury on-duty, removal of H. McCarty Gipson, demotion of Donna Berry and the national search for a police commissioner. All of these scandals have had an impact on the public image of our community, but we often overlook the impact this has on the morale of our team on the street. Something must explain our 100+ officers injured on duty.
On the other side of the coin, is the Common Council out to get back at the Mayor with this PRC? Should we expect another review in 2029? According to Fillmore District Council Member Franczyk, "20 years later, it's time to take another look."
Moving forward
As a concerned citizen, the most important duty for the government is to provide public safety. By reviewing the best practices of other government entities and exploration of technological advances, this is a great opportunity to create a positive strategy for preventing, reducing and solving crime in our city. Next time, let's not wait 19 years to rethink things.
Many will say that kids who drop out, kids who are truant, kids who get failing grades, kids involved with teen pregnancy and/or dont participate in social activities can turn out fine. Many do but each in their own way is a vulnerability to alcohol, drugs (dealing or addiction), prostitution, crime, jail, prison, etc. They become raw materials for gangs, shootings, fights, etc.
Bad parenting is as much a crime as drunk driving or harrassment etc.
If a kid doesnt show up at school and is repeatedly truant, then it should be a Buffalo police officer that rings the doorbell to check on the parental supervision. The police should be able to write a ticket to appear before a judge if necessary.
Bad parenting needs to be put before a social worker and/or a judge immediately before that child is lost.
If necessary bar welfare payments if children are truant, drop out or fail.
Combine that with school choice and school vouchers which would give parents a choice between private, parochial, charter and public schools so that all kids have opportunities to be engaged in schools and programs of their interest.
Public safety begins with building strong children, strong parents and strong families.
If streets are safe enough for our children and safe enough for our senior citizens then they will be safe enough for all of us.
Last word: the city should create a legal template for neighborhood associations within a city block that removes liability and litigation for residents. Many of Buffalo's urban residents cannot afford swingsets, pools, hot tubs, even outdoor grills and picknick tables, etc. Such a template would allow the 20 houses on a city block to share a small area of their backyards for such things. Creating a safe playground for kids and families that would otherwise be unafforable and increase the property values by offering a shared amenity that would only be available in an apartment complex or suburban development.
This idea brings children together, families together and neighbors together.
John,
you bring up some good points. I think youre preaching to the choir because a lot of people feel the same way. As someone who has spent time in city schools, I can tell you that something should be done. It would take a lot of frustration away from teachers who care deeply about their students.
As for the sharing backyards to have a place for playgrounds, picnic tables, and such; I don't think it would work well. In the areas where you would want the most positive social interaction, they don't have the money to build that kind of stuff. And if you raise that money, how do you know it will be taken care of? I recently went down to the community garden that was made across the from Extreme Home Makeover House and I was shocked by the condition of it. No one was taking care of it and it was obvious. I was swearing up and down as I drove by. All of that work for what? And that's an area I would love to see have those playgrounds and amenities.
If you want to increase property value, instill the belief and provide the means for children of the troubled poor to rise above the naysayers and get a good job. Those are the kids that will support the community and will drive neighborhoods in a better direction.
well I agree with you Greg. It is all about jobs.
The community gardens that you mention are on empty city lots, they can be seen from the street and are open to the street. These community gardens are not fenced in. This could attract anyone from anywhere.
Its a little bit of a different scenario putting a pool or a playground in the center of a city block as a shared resource because the entire city block can be fenced in, the centrality allows all neighbors to look out their backyard windows and monitor the children playing, allows stay at home parents to supervise and babysit. There are alot of scenarios.
omanahan, it doesnt matter how much an inground pool costs. The point was that all the property owners who share a city block can share backyard resources. Its up to the neighborhood association what resources they choose.
As far as not taking care of it, well, give people credit to exclude those who dont participate and reward those who do.
(Im kind of chuckling...to myself. I used to vent at times and take the comments of others seriously, personally, etc at other times. Now, thanks to people like PaulBuffalo I truly recognize that some people you must just accept as they are but you cannot engage or explain. thank you paul. you were my teacher and I learned from you.)
To everyone who doubts that people in distressed urban areas (or war torn countries) - please google Lily Yeh or go to barefootartists.org or view one of Lily's conference addresses which can be found on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFJkbwFllWY
I saw her speak in person (and I had the pleasure of eating lunch with her the day before). She speaks about the power in each of us to confront our fear of powerlessness and to create meaningful community. She moved the entire audience to tears.
'Many of Buffalo's urban residents cannot afford...hot tubs.... Such a template would allow the 20 houses on a city block to share a small area of their backyards for such things.'
So you want the residents on a block to share a hot tub, ChristieLou? You're such a swinger. I guess you're doing your part to bring gentiles in your neighborhood together.
Yet another day goes by where I'm left wondering why you don't have your own blog. Or at least the title of Editor of some highly acclaimed publication.
yeah, especially as he manages to hijack almost every article at bro.