Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
| By G. Michael Dobbs, Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD Governor Deval Patrick was in Springfield on Wednesday to conduct the second meeting of his anti-crime council, but the idea of Springfield mayoral candidate Domenic Sarno apparently won't be one the council considers for its state wide fight against gangs and illegal guns. Sarno recently announced he would work on a proposal that would identify recently-released offenders and designate part of the city as off-limits to them. Several cities across the country have enacted "stay away" ordinances to try to keep convicted criminals away from areas where they might get into trouble. When asked about the idea at a press conference before the meeting, Patrick said he "understands what motivates that [the proposal]." Patrick continued by saying when it comes to crime, elected officials "almost always get it wrong because we are under so much pressure to get one specific fix." Patrick's council is composed of law enforcement officials and social services experts who are listening to local police and elected officials around the state to develop strategies to reduce gang activity and the sale of illegal guns. Local officials who attended the meeting, which was conducted at American International College, included Springfield Mayor Charles Ryan, Hampden County District Attorney William Bennett, Chicopee Police Chief John Ferraro, Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe and Springfield Police Commissioner Edward Flynn. The press was not allowed to cover the actual meeting of the group. Patrick said that his administration has advocated for additional funds for new police and for summer jobs programs. Secretary of Public Safety Kevin Burke said that anti-gang Shannon Grant funds are bringing several million dollars into Springfield and Holyoke to address the root causes of gangs. Burke said the summer jobs program "helps keep good kids out of trouble." Kurt Schwartz, the under secretary for police and fire services, said that he met with Flynn to confirm the State Police would be continuing their assistance to the Springfield Police Department this summer. The day after the council meeting, Ryan told Reminder Publications that he took advantage of the meeting in Springfield to present a comprehensive look at Springfield's crime problems. He asked Flynn to prepare and present "a full exposition of our situation," which he said was well received by the group. Ryan said the city is in "an unusual situation." When the city's violent crime statistic are examined they are equal to those of Boston's on a per capita basis. Springfield, Ryan pointed out, does not receive the same amount of funding as Boston, though, on a per capita basis. Ryan said if the city was to staff its Police Department as Boston's, it would have to hire an additional 165 officers. The city does not have the estimated $10 to $15 million needed to pay those officers. "We've got to have those resources," he said. He said he was delighted bythe "rare opportunity" to be able to make this presentation at the council meeting and that it was important for the governor to hear about the city's status. The new members of the Finance Control Board have been meeting with Springfield residents, business owners, labor leaders and representatives of non-profit groups over the last two weeks and Ryan said the consensus is that violent crime is the city's number one problem. The crime issue and the distribution of state funds brings back the issues of the way the Legislature determines Additional Assistance funding, Ryan said. |