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Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD About 100 residents in Forest Park were seeking answers to their questions about crime at a special forum presented by the Forest Park Civic Association on Wednesday night. Deputy Police Chief William Fitchet, Judge Philip Contant, Assistant District Attorney Compton, the city's chief development office David Panagore, Director of Housing Carl Dietz, Director of building Code Enforcement Steve Desilets, State Police Major Gary Lemay Director of Neighborhood Services Yvette Cruz and mayor-elect Domenic Sarno answered questions previously submitted to them from the Civic Associations as well as questions posed by the audience. Moderator Jane Hetzell said, "People are concerned about untoward activities in the neighborhood." She added that criminal activities are happening "practically on people's doorsteps." What residents are looking for is for law enforcement and other officials to catch criminals, keep them off the streets and keep them from returning to the neighborhood. Fitchet said that Springfield is not unique in that much of its violent crime is driven by the sale of drugs. Drug sales attract gangs who don't flinch at settling differences with guns. To curtail violence in Forest Park, Fitchet said there have been many officers assigned to overtime details. While the public might be aware of the walking patrols in the area, they may be unaware of the anti-robbery undercover units that have been active in the neighborhood, the prostitution sweeps and the decoy operations. Fitchet and his fellow officers said he also spends "a tremendous amount of time" on quality of life issues. Lemay said the State Police unit would be assisting the Springfield Police Department (SPD) as long as the city needs the additional law enforcement resources. Lemay said his unit of troopers work with the SPD on Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays on issues involving guns, drugs, robberies and stolen vehicles. State Police Lt. Thomas Daley, who also attended the forum, added there has been a "real increase in Driving Under the Influence arrests and that auto theft is down in a significant way." Several proposed housing ordinances would also be of great help in addressing crime and quality of life issues, Dietz said. City Councilor Tim Rooke's proposed licensing of rental properties in the city and legislation introduced by City Councilor Bruce Stebbins that would allow the city to enter private property in order to clean it up would both be boons, he said. Desilets said his office is monitoring 170 properties in the city to help prevent insurance fraud. When a property undergoes a fire, the insurance payment is put into an escrow account until that property is demolished or fixed, he explained. He said a big problem facing Springfield and other cities are vacant houses due to the on-going mortgage crisis. He asked residents to call his office with addresses of such homes in their neighborhood so the city can contact the bank or other mortgage holder to ensure the buildings are properly secured. Panagore said public safety is economic development job one and that all of the processes described during the forum tie together. He noted a recent survey of 500 businesses in the city showed most wanted a physically sound city and the city must continue the infrastructure improvements it has started. "A road can have a huge [business] impact," he said. Funds for the assistance of business development must come from sources other than the state, he said. And federal funds, such as those that underwrote the former X Main Street Corporation, can no longer be used to sustain a program. They can be only used to begin programs he said. Sarno said there has to be a partnership between city departments to solve problems and what people were seeing at this meeting was the evolution of his quality of life flex squad. | ||||||
