Since the Mayor, whoever that may be, cannot move to solve problems in this critical area without City Council support, it is important that you as a voter know how the City Council candidates line up on recognizing the south side problems and their approach to dealing with them.
It is important to note that Council members are selected first
at the district level in the August 27, 2013 primary and then voted on City
wide in the November 5, 2013 general election.
I posed this question to the candidates: What
specifically will you do to begin to reduce crime and improve the quality of
life in South St. Pete?
James Kennedy: No response
Lorraine Margeson:
One of my priorities if I have voter support to sit on
council will be a focus on public safety issues and the
quality of life enhancement and economic development that a safe atmosphere
brings to a neighborhood or business district. From approximately 1996
thru 2001 I ran the 34th St Corridor Crime watch. We had a VERY
active volunteer group that worked successfully hand in hand with the St.
Petersburg Police Department and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, our
group carried out weekly anti drug marches along the corridor when
I still lived in that neighborhood before moving to my current
location in NE St. Pete. We helped establish nuisance abatement cases for
the police department to pursue, and recorded drug dealing and prostitution
cases for the officers to act on, neighborhood cleanups, the whole nine
yards. I participated in anti drug marches throughout the city as
well.............I know how neighborhoods can support each
other. That kind of partnering needs to come back strong to
create vibrant neighborhoods, neighbor helping neighbor in conjunction
with strong neighborhood policing initiative partnerships, economic
development AND code enforcement/nuisance abatement
pursuits. Neighborhood watch programs where telephone trees
and regular communication is part and parcel of the commitment along with
regular visits with the crime watch coordinator and the community policing
officer/officers in charge are VITAL to success along with the Neighborhood
Partnership department at City Hall.......just putting up signs is a useless
pursuit. Volunteers keeping watch with city government/law
enforcement support is the formula that will move a neighborhood to a
safer situation.
My ThoughtsJim Kennedy passed on my repeated requests that he respond to the
Seven Questions for City Council Candidates. See District 2 City
Council Race Updated.
The invitation is still open. Comments will be posted with no
editing.
Kennedy has been primarily focused on the downtown area and
specifically the Beach drive corridor. Even though his District runs far north,
it often appears his view does not extend much beyond 5th Avenue North.
He has been a LENS supporter from the outset often justifying his
votes on the project with some pretty convoluted logic, and consistently in
favor of not allowing the public to have input on anything.
On south side issues he sometimes appears more hesitant than
supportive.
Kennedy often openly complains about Wengay Newton's antics on
City Council, but then reacts in child like fashion with eye roles, sighs,
snide remarks and strange body language when he is not sleeping on the
dais.
I thought Kennedy was a bad choice when he was appointed to City
Council in 2007. Nothing he has done in the last 6 years has changed my
opinion.
Loraine Margeson is new to politics but not new to civic
involvement, neighborhoods and their views. She lived in South St. Pete, seems
to have a feel for the community. Her inclusive and holistic answer to the
South St. Petersburg question is refreshing.
Like any political newcomer she will have a lot to learn, but my
guess is District 2 would be much better represented and South St. Pete would
have a caring advocate on City Council should she be elected.
e-mail Doc at: dr.webb@verizon.net, or send me a Facebook
Friend request.
Campaign Disclosures: Contributor to Kathleen Ford Campaign,
Darden Rice Campaign, Concern Citizens of St. Petersburg
Have your say. VOTE YES TO Stop The Lens
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