| San Francisco County, CA | November 2, 2004 Election |
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Public SafetyBy Robert HaalandCandidate for Supervisor; County of San Francisco; District 5 |
This information is provided by the candidate | |
Public Safety, Police Effectiveness, and Street ViolenceAs Supervisor, I will continue to work on reforming the Police Department to make it more accountable to the community and more effective in solving crimes. The new, more independent Police Commission appointed by the Board of Supervisors is an important first step toward making police officers more accountable to and aware of the communities in which they serve. Today witnesses and victims fear for their safety if they step forward with information that would enable police to investigate and gather enough evidence or the DA prosecute violent crimes. By building relationships based in trust and mutual respect, community members and the police can work together to both prevent and solve crimes. The City must address root causes of violence. We must make intelligent, rational decisions about the best ways to divert young people away from lives of crime and violence. This will require investing today in a range of services, including education, job training, after-school recreation and computer classes, parenting skills counseling and substance abuse treatment. We must take truancy more seriously and be more creative in devising ways for young people to take responsibility for undoing the damage of their misdeeds (restorative justice). We must improve supervision, expand life skills training, create job opportunities, and increase treatment programs for people on probation and parole, since they commit the highest percentage of violent crimes. I also support District Attorney Kamala Harris in her efforts to increase penalties for criminals who use guns. As progressives, we cannot turn a blind eye to gun violence destroying the fabric of communities, particularly in African American neighborhoods, where parents don't let their children play outside, the elderly are afraid to go out on errands, and young people risk their lives riding Muni. We must make it clear carrying or using a gun will result in serious consequences. Community policing is key. When communities and the police work as partners to identify and solve problems before they escalate into dangerous situations, neighborhood safety improves without compromising civil liberties. Structural changes are important. Minor structural adjustments in neighborhoods, such as brighter lighting, trimmed hedges, cleaned up vacant lots and buildings may seem trivial, but they can vastly improve safety, especially in places such as park paths or bus stops. I will work with the City Attorney's Code Enforcement and Nuisance Abatement Team to pressure irresponsible property owners to eliminate magnets for criminal activity. |
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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 28, 2004 23:14
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