Reduction in crime
Last January 22, I wrote in this column the following regarding statements by Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera at the Chamber of Commerce’s Mayors Breakfast and the reduction on crime in the city during the previous year:
Mayor Rivera said five times, “Did I tell you that crime is down 4.2%?” That was cute but I wonder how accurate the statement was. We had 6 homicides last year and that should have elevated the crime rate quite high. Drug use and overdoses have shot up over 200% and even auto theft has gone up, according to police records. The average last year was 1.25 cars stolen daily and so far this year it’s been 1.75 per day.
In January, we have had 35 cars reported stolen already. The only area that has seen a decrease is Breaking and Entering which is significantly down from the previous year. Perhaps that was the figure he used.
By the way, in 2013 there were 36,444 calls for service to the police station. In 2014, it went up to 43,432 calls; that’s an increase of 7,000 calls that I’m sure they were not placing “take-out” orders.
Now, six months later, there is a press release from Interim Police Chief James Fitzpatrick claiming that crime is down by 22%. You may read it on page 6.
I consider this as deceptive manipulation of data. In 2015 there have been 27,962 calls for service to date. In 2014 there were 22,212. Approximately 7,700 more calls than the previous year. That’s closer to a 25 to 30 percent INCREASE. They selected the right categories in order to claim victory while ignoring the truth.
Total calls for service: 2013 – 36,444; 2014 – 43,432; the first six months of 2015 – 27,962. Why are people calling the police in such large numbers?
Also, comments on the internet and on the radio from residents about incidents ranging from cab drivers being assaulted to home breakings are on the rise. Even the Mt. Vernon area that was always such a safe section of the city is beginning to experience breakings, car thefts and cars found on cement blocks without tires, according to warnings from our neighborhood association.
We started the year with an exorbitant amount of cars being stolen and it later subsided which benefitted the final figures.
Supporting Devers Bill
State Representative Marcos Devers is touting House Bill #1258 for legislation to authorize the city of Lawrence to establish a program for enforcement against illegal dumping as a new initiative but I would like to refresh your memory.
Over four years ago, under the leadership of Marc Laplante, the Lawrence City Council approved a Home Rule Petition on this subject and it was sent to the State House. Our State Representative (at the time we had only one) sat on it and did nothing to fight for its passing. Then, it came back as House Bill No. 1288 of 2013-2014, again it did not pass and it is being recycled once more. Bills that are not worked on can be brought back the next year but the sponsors have to fight for them in order to pass.
The same happened with other bills that have been hanging around for years and he just keeps dusting them off and listing them as if he is doing any work. Well, he will have to show up at the hearings and explain the need of this community to convince his peers that it should be approved.
News Flash! Mr. Representative, we are not the ones who have to support the Bill. You have to show up and fight for it!
