PUBLIC SAFETY

By Walter Kenneth Ruehlig

Safe and secure neighborhoods for the citizens of Antioch.

In the meantime, until we find more funding, we need more community policing with officers spending increased time out of the car and on the streets; as well as keeping the momentum of Neighborhood Watch, which has now grown to 150 chapters city-wide.

I will pursue options for the expeditious return of the Community Action Team and Gang Prevention Unit.

I will move for a daytime curfew for minors/juveniles and added truancy sweeps to the current once a year event.

I will explore the possibility of charging parental fines such as the ordinance adopted by Silverton, Oregon whereby parents pay up to $1,000, or take parenting classes (if indigent), if their children are truant, involved in a gang, possess drugs, commit graffiti or are even caught smoking.

Panhandling on highway exits is dangerous to the panhandlers and to the motorists. It also impresses an image Antioch does not want and must be remedied by regular public nuisance sweeps.