USA Today
When I saw this article from USA Today, I think I spent a good five minutes just laughing.
The article itself brings up a very interesting point on the issue of crime in downtown Eugene.
"The Oregon Criminal Justice Commission says between 2007 and 2008, violent crime in Eugene was up 16.4 percent and property crime was up 25.8 percent. Crime rates in both categories dropped in Portland, Salem and nationwide."
To those of us who have lived in Eugene area for some time, are totally aware of the problems that plague Eugene and the downtown mall. Hell, there's no way I'll go to the downtown mall especially after dark. The fact that crime is on the rise in Eugene is nothing new to us. And not surprising that that is what's happening. I constantly remind people on this blog about the DA there will times publicly announcing which crimes that he will not prosecute.
I mean, how stupid can you get?
And of course the consequences for game playing like this over their budget woes will only result in opening Pandora's box in crime that we may not be able to close.
We as citizens have been complaining for a long time about the lack of police coverage in the Eugene area, and our concerns always fall on deaf ears.
"We don't have the money in the budget..." as we would constantly hear as a city builds another skateboard park, bike-path or some other nonessential project.
The humorous part of this whole thing is not so much that there is a high crime in the City of Eugene, it's how people have gone about getting the city Council's attention to look into it.
Not too long ago in the news, headlines were made when an anonymous group that photographs of some of the crimes and garbage in the downtown mall area. It got their attention.
Monday was the councilors' first opportunity to discuss the topic since an anonymous citizens group called the Eugene Advocates sent e-mails and photos of public drunkenness and other downtown ills.
to my knowledge, this is the second time that an anonymous group has formed and received the Eugene city Council attention. unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of that group which is formed by a bunch of businessmen in the area. Council of nine? Council of 11, something like that.
The point is, it doesn't matter when the people are mad, or lobby, or demand a public vote on it, if you want something done in Eugene, it's proof positive that all you have to do if form some type of an anonymous group and your issue will be heard.
and finally according to the article, "The Eugene city Council is debating on proper balance between providing social services and law enforcement."
Well, if anyone of the Eugene city Council members has ever had their house broken into or their car stolen like I have, I think that would be a very easy decision to make on their part.
2 comments:
I got a call a couple of days ago and it was a phone survey asking my opinion on the city possibly imposing a 9% tax on internet users in the city. This would also be applied to mobile phones that access the internet so in other words if you have internet at home and on your cell phone you would pay twice.
The way this survey was worded it would give 2% to provide improved access to low income users and the rest to the city general fund.
Needless to say, I was not in favor of any new taxes and let them know.
YICKS!!!
if the money actually went for something meaningful I could see it well not really.
and the money that goes to "low income users" it never really does.
please keep me informed on this, because we really do not want this at all.
Post a Comment