As for ED, its more people with less outcome. All baskets put in Neyer and the east end. Staggering to see the $5Mm given to the Atrium to buy them land and they have $50Mm to put into digitizing medical records. As for cameras, is the $5Kk on average monthly worth the "big brother" perception within Middletown for those looking to buy? Not in my opinion. Now add the additional cost < than $3.00 for the street lights, and Middletown continues the path to making it a community "everyone" wants to avoid. Middletown's ED hasn't been effective for 30 years or more.

I found b&w's thinking to be very logical.

 

The cameras don't create a lot of revenue, and at this time do nothing but photo red light violators. If these cameras catch the most flagrant traffic offenders and eventually deter drivers from dangerously running through major intersections(while freeing increasingly scarce and valuable police manpower), I don't see how this wouldn't be a good thing.

Big Brother is always a concern, however he is here now and has been here since LONG b4 the introduction of red light cameras.

 

The local crime situation is spiraling.

The retail business community is being devastated by petty theft and vandalism.

Employed property owners are fearful of what will happen daily when they leave their residences for job  time. Some neighborhoods see pilferage every day.

 

The police dept. seems to be re-focusing on proper co-operation and apprehension, however the court system has completely disintegrated to the revenue-grabbing scenerio that keeps being mentioned here. Judges suspend virtually all jail time now in lieu of fines and most importantly(to them) the ever increasing court costs. Pay your court cost while ignoring fines and sentencing restrictions seems to be ok with the courts and probation depts. The SAME individuals are terrorizing our community on a continual basis, with the knowledge that they will spend little to no time incarcerated, and paying off judicial judgements is not really an issue. Therefore outside of abusing police officers and paying court costs, there is very little protection and punitive concern. Victims' rights are currently non-existant, and were totally ignored during Mr.Adkins' run as city prosecutor. Proper mandatory notifications of pleas, setllements and court dates simply didn't happen.

 

YES--the over-abundance of Section 8 DOES contribute to this situation, however it is only one factor and shouldn't shoulder the entire blame.

 

Economic Development should be far more encompassing than patronizing AK, the Atrium and CBL  /Towne Mall. Our local govt. is hardly in a position for the "partnership" mentioned by our new ED front man. His plan was honestly nothing new or inspiring. Actually it was no real plan at all--simply common sense options that shift a large % of the cost back to the city. Not possible at this time.

 

Business retention has been totally ignored.

Existing businesses are the lifeblood of our community, and attention to their needs/survival would be FAR less costly, preserve FAR more jobs and could lead to possible business expansion and increased employment at a much SMALLER cost with significantly less expense and effort than the also needed recruitment of NEW business(which is very costly due to the high % of new business failures,start-up costs and uncertainty about the resources/competence of the new business owners).

 

IMO our current ED department has everything backwards, and I just met with them YESTERDAY.

 

JMO==where am I off here?

We do NOT need more police to do "red light patrol", and I'm sorry if my post was not clear.

 

But red light cameras cannot solve the problems with drugs that we have here, nor can they reduce thefts or burglaries.  Red light cameras cannot stop gangs of youths from roaming our neighborhoods and vandalizing properties, and worse.  When one is in trouble and needs help quickly, it will do no good to "call a red light camera."  Red light cameras might be able to take a picture of a robbery or mugging in progress in the middle of an intersection, but even if the perpetrator can be identified from the picture, it will be of small comfort to the victim to know that a ticket for a civil offense will be mailed to the rogue a month later

 

John,my wife would call my way of thinking something else.

 

I hate big brother too,but if you can't beat'em,join'em. If those cameras make money for the city they will never get rid of them. If a camera is on every street corner then we have no need for a police department. But we live in a police state anyway so I guess it is a mute point.

 

Mike,why would you hire more cops if cameras can do the job ? That makes no sense. If cameras can charge you with a crime there is no need for a cop. The cameras require no time off,no paid vacation,no union,no insurance,no gasoline,no nothing. The ultimate city employee.