Community Safety

By Shane Brinton

How community policing makes Arcata safer, the importance of vigorous traffic safety education and enforcement, and the basics of a balanced approach to marijuana regulation

• Community Policing Works

Thanks to our hardworking peace officers, strong department leadership, support from the City Council, and public participation, our work to improve community safety is paying off.

When our officers are out walking beats, patrolling neighborhoods, and getting to know people, our community is sending the message that we value our quality of life. Proactive relationship building and visibility compliment enforcement activities.

The Arcata Police Department also runs a Youth and Family Services unit. This innovative, community-oriented program provides a variety of services to troubled teens and their families. I strongly support it, in addition to traditional police services.

• Traffic Safety Education and Enforcement

Education must start early in life. Events like the annual Kids' Bike Rodeo provide opportunities for children to learn the basics of traffic safety. We must also increase our outreach to young adults, especially students from outside the area. It is important that both drivers and cyclists understand and abide by our laws.

As an avid cyclist, I am particularly concerned about irresponsible cyclists that put us all at risk, as well as disrespectful motorists that act as if cyclists don't exist. In both cases, expanded enforcement is necessary as a disincentive to future violations.

I also support the creation of a Bicycle Diversion Program - modeled on diversion programs for drivers - to give first-time offenders the opportunity to have their violation dismissed if they complete an extensive road safety class.

• Balanced Marijuana Policy

Unfortunately, the recent federal crackdown makes it more difficult to provide for meaningful regulation. They are simply pushing the industry further underground, where violence, house fires, and environmental damage are prevalent.

Ultimately, I believe the solution is to legalize and regulate marijuana for both medical and recreational uses.

In the meantime, I advocate respect for patients coupled with carefully targeted enforcement to shut down the industrial-scale grow houses that are damaging our neighborhoods. I support our policy of focusing police resources on these large growers, not people with a few plants for personal use.

In addition to enforcement, I support Measure I - the Excessive Energy Users Tax - to hold the big residential growers accountable for their greenhouse gas emissions.

I also support proactive enforcement of laws against the production and sale of more dangerous drugs like methamphetamine and heroin.