Sanford Crime and City Beautification
"We have a high crime area. Let's make new sidewalks!
Criminals won't walk on new sidewalks!"
Sanford city leaders hope a major beautification project will breathe new life along its gateway to downtown.
http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/sanford-hopes-beautification-project...
Abandoned buildings, weeds and cracked sidewalks are what greet thousands who drive down U.S. 17-92, the main artery that gets people to the county headquarters building, City Hall and everything else downtown.
Jerry Buerger, owner of The Appliance Store on 17-92 says, "It's kind of a joke.”
Buerger said crime is so bad that he's been broken into six times in three years. He said he believes it's going to take a lot more than pretty sidewalks to clean up this area. "Just rebuild it. Get rid of the old and bring in the new," said Buerger.
Crime is up!!
Violent crime index in 2011
Sanford: 342.8
U.S. Average: 213.6
http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Sanford-Florida.html
According to Neighborhood Scout, Sanford has one of the highest crimes rates in the country based on 2010 statistics; Population in 2010 census was 53,500
“Sanford has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 14. Within Florida, more than 94% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Sanford.”
The analysis looks at both violent crimes and property crimes, and again Sanford rates among the highest in the nation;
“The violent crime rate is one of the highest in the nation, across communities of all sizes. Violent offenses tracked included forcible rape, murder and non-negligent manslaughter, armed robbery, and aggravated assault, including assault with a deadly weapon. Your chance of becoming a victim of one of these crimes in Sanford is one in 150.”
http://www.floridapoliticalpress.com/2012/04/04/in-light-of-trayvon-mart...
http://www.dividedstates.com/another-black-teen-shot-in-sanford-fl-paral...
The city of Sanford is paying out $21,000 to find a new chief of police at taxpayer’s expense, and so far has taken 4 months to narrow it down to 5 candidates. Why not promote from within?? Someone familiar with the neighborhoods and people?
http://mysanfordherald.com/view/full_story/20353894/article-City--consul...
The $2 million they are looking to spend on new sidewalks and lights sounds like it needs to go for additional police officers and not just “pretty up the community.” Clean up the streets. Get all the assault weapons and ammo from the street criminals. Crack down on gang activity. New gun law restrictions and new lights aren’t going to prevent crime. Local politicos proving once again that you can’t buy common sense.
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