Annapolis Capital Punishment

The below letter (unedited by CP) from Kate Rollason, an Eastport resident, was mailed on November 19, 2007, but there has been no response from either the Mayor or City Council members. While reading this, keep in mind that it was many months ago when the Mayor, responding to crime concerns, asked in desperation, “What are we missing here. Tell me what we‘re missing”? Well, in this case, a response to this letter is missing, but that’s only for starters.



The Honorable Ellen Moyer,
The Honorable Richard Israel, Alderman
The Honorable Classie Gillis Hoyle, Alderwoman
The Honorable Sheila M. Finlayson, Alderwoman
The Honorable David H. Cordle, Alderman
The Honorable Julie Stankivic, Alderwoman
The Honorable Samuel Shropshire, Alderman
The Honorable Ross Arnett, Alderman

November 19, 2007

Dear Mayor, Aldermen and Alderwomen:

To say that I am very concerned, frightened, scared and appalled about the recent shooting in Eastport, would be greatly understating my feelings and thoughts.
We, as a City, have been grappling with the crime and drug dealing issues for quite some time. We have had numerous committees and task forces as well. I personally served on one.
But we’re now at a totally different level. For someone to shoot a police officer, well, that should be the strongest wake up call ever. Since I live on Jefferson Street, it certainly is for me.
There are many ideas floating around on these issues. And now, I’m adding mine. I do want to stress, however, that talk is not what we need right now. We need action and we need it now! I want for my retired, elderly neighbors to not be afraid to leave their homes. And yes, I want for the vast majority of people in public housing to not be afraid.
I know that there is a great deal of talk that ‘crime near public housing’ is not worse than anywhere else in the City. My neighbors and I drive President’s Street daily. We see the crime on a daily basis. It is very real, very frightening.
Because this is such a complex issue, I believe we need to address this on both a short term basis AND long term basis. And while I know that the drug problem fuels violence, the violence is what I find most concerning. That can kill.
Short term:
Fill the vacancies in the Police Department as rapidly as possible. Will it take more money? I’m sure. Do we need to offer housing bonuses to those who sign up? $ 25,000, better yet $50,000, awarded at the end of 2 years, with repayment if the cadet does not serve a minimum of 10 years?
Get police officers out of their cars and walking or biking the streets. Let them get to know and develop trust with the citizens in that area. Make their ‘beats’ consistent, daily. This would be true community policing, recommended by numerous citizens.
Have local residents provide input into the problems in their communities. Make us part of the solution. This is the other very important aspect of community policing.
Recognize and embrace the fact that true community policing will help everywhere in our City, not just in public housing. It will help the merchants on West Street, in apartment complexes, in our historic district, as well as everywhere else. The newly appointed police commissioner of Baltimore City recently said that, “The first step is to get their rear ends out of police cars and on the streets talking to folks. We have to break out of this just going from call to call.”
The Housing Authority has offered space for police sub-stations in each of its properties. Do this NOW!
Do not, under any circumstance, just pick one or two areas for increased vigilance. That only drives the problems to other areas. It takes no time for the word to spread, for example, ‘Stay away from Robinwood, too many cops there. C’mon over to Eastport Terrace.’ It must be a coordinated and totally comprehensive effort. It must be totally visible everywhere.
I also need to add here that, if necessary, I am willing to pay more taxes. Is that the issue? Can I help write ‘start up grants?’ Public safety is the number one priority here.
Support the efforts of the Housing Authority to restrict parking to residents. Laud the work that the Housing Authority has been undertaking to rid the properties of non-residents. Numerous residents of those properties are developing great confidence in Eric Brown’s work..
All parties need to immediately cease and desist the public ‘feuds’ and disagreements about whose fault these problems are. It is far past time. This is the time to roll up our shirt sleeves and produce action. This also applies to garnering the necessary dollars for the atrocious ‘sinkholes’. If HUD refuses to step up to the plate, what can we do? Politically lean on HUD? Find the dollars elsewhere?
Strongly support the collaborative efforts of Tony Spencer and Eric Brown to provide job training, such as for painters. These can be very well paying jobs
Longer term:
Continue to ‘grow social programs,’ that are aimed at our poorest and most vulnerable citizens. We must give our teens, single moms, etc., hope for a brighter future. Help the teens to see that someday they can get good jobs, they do not need to take to the streets for immediate monetary gain. Help single moms access job training, day care, transportation, so that they too can hold down jobs.
Continue to also ‘grow’ after school tutoring and recreational programs to provide options to ‘just hanging out.’ Give structure.
Provide more role models. I have a cab driver that I ride with often. He grew up in public housing. He supports his family. I believe we need more role models whose lives are achievable, as viewed by our citizenry. Everyone does not grow up to be a doctor or lawyer, although those are also very laudable goals.
Long term:
Begin to question now why we as a City congregate and segregate our poorest in large public housing properties. Does that not devalue the citizens’ potential contributions? Does that not inherently send the message that they are not wanted in the rest of Annapolis? Is this not ‘NIMBYISM?”
Re-define public housing to reflect not just buildings, but also other types of subsidized housing. The use of mainstream vouchers to pay rent, for example, also comes from public dollars. Help people who want to move to do so. I am not saying that we should kick people out (except criminals). We need to work very hard with HUD to identify all available resources. There are programs to help people do this. And there are people who want to leave the public housing properties.
Help poor people to own their own homes. Again, there are HUD programs to help this to occur, and it is currently occurring on a very limited basis in the Clay Street area, an important first step.
Can some of the units vacated become affordable housing for first responders and teachers? Rental complexes in other parts of the County offer very deep discounts on rent to have police car presence in the parking lots. And, mixed income housing should, in my estimation, be our goal.
I am sure there are many, many other ideas. Greater minds than mine weigh in on these issues all the country. But I cannot stress enough that this is the time for action. And the priority, immediately, is on protecting public safety. Any way in which I can help, please call on me. I’ve been a resident of Annapolis for over nine years now. I love our City. But we have much work to do. I hope these ideas are useful.

Sincerely,

Kate Rollason
krollason@thearcccr.org

cc: Eric Brown, HACA Exec. Director
Mayor