Hi all. The discussion has been great and it’s fantastic that we’re chiming in with our own perspectives. Two major things I want to point out.
- It really does read like some are commenting without having watched the SVH Committee meeting. I recommend you watch (or even just listen) to it at 1.5x speed. Video is here.
- I think a review of the timeline of events is needed here. Please correct me if I am wrong but here’s how things seem to have been going.
Excluding Glenwood South here (or at least in this thread) around Moore Square and the GoRaleigh Station:
- Leading up to Summer 2023, an increase in activities have made folks feel unsafe.
- It has affected bus riders at the station as well as business owners in the area.
- Recently (as in weeks ago) the police increased security in the area.
- This increase is helping the situation and the business owners support this.
- However, the police department is at capacity and cannot sustain this level of support for Moore Square and GoRaleigh Station.
- The business owners are asking the councilors to increase the support (ahem, more $$$$) in next year’s budget to both recruit and retain officers.
- They see this as the solution which this committee will discuss.
So that’s where we are. Things actually are better but it may not last. Please critique my timeline here and I’ll update it. I want to make sure we’re getting this discussion right.
Finally, let’s make sure we are clear that we are talking about small hotspots of issues. GoRaleigh Station, Moore Square, and Glenwood South have had an increase in issues and the city is addressing it. Let’s try and not let this paint our entire downtown as a hotspot of crime. That would be devastating for us right now.
Alright, just wanted to post that to level-set some things on this topic. 