Whether you are stirring the pot, the paint, a conversation, or just going stir crazy - throw in your two cents. We might not give you anything for two-cents or you may consider it therapy at which time we will accept any payment you deem worthy made directly to your favorite charity. Suggestions are welcome. Make up a name to preserve your identity if you wish and join the gang. All are welcome - as long as you mind your manners.
This is the first post on this blog and is updated for the sake of moving it current as a benchmark. Sometimes, I find it interesting to review old posts for accuracy and to see what changed since the post.
10 comments:
As a test, this post contains no calories or other nutritional value.
Thanks for opening a civil and moderated blog Spanky. Let's hope that the lesser intellect Jerry Springer- Jackass crowd will stay on the other side of the tracks. Good luck with this blog.
To this point in my life I have learned through experience with many people that home ownership is one of the strongest cornerstones of building neighborhoods and communities. People tend to vote and be involved in the political process as a means of protecting their lifes work, ie. their home. In protecting one's property, common interests with neighbors are discovered and nurtured as a means of maintaining the quality of life in neighborhoods which spreads to the larger community. It is this sense of ownership that forges individual interest to community interest and gives weight to the desire for safe streets.
Soon, efforts will begin to spread community policing near City Park then on to Sonia Quarters. I would hope that everyone that is interested in having their neighborhood be the most it could be will be receptive and involved with the APD officers that will be making their presence known. Take the time to get to know the patrolmen and give them the opportunity to know you for that is how community policing works. We are all in this together and the police need our help to make the city a safer, more pleasant place to live. After all, it is our responsibility to look after our individual and collective interests because no one else is going to do it for us. A city with less crime will be more attractive to investment and people looking for the good things we as a community have to offer.
The best place to start with a law and order campaign would be with the police themselves. Police that disobey traffic laws, when not on a call, police that violate ethics laws by accepted gifts and free or reduced meals, police officers who drive drunk when off-duty, policemen who steal jewelry and are not arrested and prosecuted as the citizens they are supposed to serve, policemen who commit perjury when giving testimony, policemen who openly abuse vehicle take home policies, and general rudeness toward the public gives police and serious image problem. Not until they are held in a higher esteem by the public, will we see true changes in a crime decrease and a respect for law and order.
Spanky: thanks for the new blog; much appreciation! I agree with your post regarding Alexandria, and I think the steps being taken by the APD are much needed. The more community involvement, the stronger our police force will be. It's really a win-win situation for all involved, except the criminals!
To Patrick and Charlie,
Please be patient as it will take time for people to use this blog. All subjects are open and by the nature of being moderated as I can attend to it, there will not be instant posting. I would hope this sill do two things; 1. allow for posters to develop lengthy and thoughtful posts. 2.End the reactive responses that are usally offensive and shallow and do not expand on previous posts. Hopefully, the result will be also to solicit points of view on many different subjects that can add insight to solutions to problems instead of constant bemoaning of circumstances.
Thank You for your participation.
Hey Y'all,,
I think that community involvement has to be more than simply "getting to know" the police in your area. I think that the police department has the duty to listen to engage in back and forth communication with the public on issues.
As Charlie knows and others may know, what I see as a current lack of communication from the RPSO on a serious and potentially costly issue is of real concern to me, and may influence my vote for Sheriff.
My dad was a cop who was crippled in the line of duty, and currently many of my friends are MP's, so I am empathetic to police officers. It is up to the leaders in the APD and the RPSO to step up and let the public know what is going one, good or bad.
A.T.
Spanky, Congrats and Thanks for the blog. It is very much needed in Cenla.
Good blog and yes we should be held accountable.
It is my hope that citizens and the police can actually exchange greater amounts of information that will lead to the reduction of crime that we experience here. How in the world can our community attract talent and retain our youth if it is not viewed as a great place to live? Remember, that others in our country that live in more crime free communities simply skip over us when reviewing crime stats. And, oh, yes they do. The two primary first questions that families considering a home purchase in a new community ask are; 1. How are the schools and 2. What is the crime picture? It is up to all of us to be able to give better answers in the future and it does not happen without work and the investment of time.
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