Seaside public safety has improved tremendously in the almost two decades I have lived in the City. Violent, drug-related and property crime statistics show they are a small fraction of what we suffered in Seaside during the 1990s.
This is partially attributable to improved policing (including a now fully staffed police department) and until recently, also to a larger, better Seaside economy which indirectly discouraged crime by providing gainful. legal opportunities for all people.
With the housing crisis in full swing and with numerous developments not compelled to pay their fair share of needed public amenities such as police and fire stations, we are unfortunately at great risk of loosing many of these advances.
Seaside is, for example, once again experiencing an explosion of graffiti affecting commercial and residential properties as well as City owned properties, including parks. This might be an early indicator that more crime problems are headed our way.
Proposed Solutions:
Ensure adequate funding for police and fire departments to ensure proper staffing, training and physical resources. This is best handled by appropriate fiscal responsibility on the part of the Council, which should immediately clarify consistent standards for what considerations and participation is expected of all development projects.
It should not be necessary to further increase the tax burden on Seaside residents if we make intelligent development decisions that benefit all stakeholders and not just a few special interests.
There are also significant non-traditional aspects of public safety that need to be taken into account at multiple levels. One of the most obvious is the need to eradicate gang presence. Uncombated graffiti gives gangs a sense of turf entitlement. Graffiti can be fairly easily dealt with tools other than police involvement.
One proactive step would be to encourage (or even require) new developments and significant remodels to paint exteriors with graffiti resistant paint or use other graffiti resistant building methods and materials.
The property maintenance ordinance must also be uniformly and swiftly enforced, particularly with regards to graffiti removal.
The police and fire departments must also continue their school outreach programs. We should consider expanding with similar programs to educate Seaside residents and business people regarding public safety offerings in the community. These types of programs will reinforce the reality that Seaside is well protected and that public safety employees are our partners in keeping the community safe and helping to improve it.
Paid for by Felix For Seaside City Council