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Greetings all,
Daily we see what goes on in St. James Park. We are all aware of the homeless feedings, sleeping, littering, pan-handling, drinking, drug usage and dealing, violence, etc. We are also aware that the police are not actively enforcing the existing park rules and ordinances that prohibit this activity. This situation makes our park unsafe and unattractive for the family-friendly events, activities, and programs we want to see.
We want this to change. Toward this end, Jill and I have used https://www.causes.com to create a petition that will be sent to the SJPD Police Chief, Larry Esquivel, to direct his officers to actively enforce the park's rules and ordinances.
Please join with us in signing this petition by going to: https://www.causes.com/campaigns/34380-make-st-james-park-safer-by-enforcing-existing-laws-and-ordinances?utm_campaign=search_widget and signing up with either your Facebook or email address and then adding your name to the petition. Once you sign, please ask your friends and neighbors to also sign.
St. James Park is both a neighborhood and city park. Its historical position within the city justifies that it should be a destination for those who live, work, and play downtown. With your help and support, we can make this happen.
Sincerely,
Jack Sardegna
Unreal. We have to petition these cops to perform a very basic function of their job? No, I'm not on board with it.
ReplyDeleteVery basic function of their job? Not quite. Their job is the safety and security of the citizens of San Jose, not quality of life issues. SJPD was once a great police department that had a reputation for being able to make an impact on quality of life issues. They are now hamstrung by homeless activist groups etc. that prevent them from doing so. Not to mention being decimated by a city administration purely for political gain.
DeleteIt's not a "quality of life" issue, if dozens of homeless people and other criminals are dealing drugs, starting fights and committing murders just steps from my apartment. Who's job is it to bring some order to that mess? It's entirely out of control.
DeleteWell said Anon #1
ReplyDeleteThat could be such a great park, if it was all cleaned up.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that many parks and trails in San Jose feel/are unsafe.
We must absolutely get rid of the homeless and the mentally ill people in downtown, period. Either accept a one way out of downtown to anywhere else or go to jail solution is the best just like in Denver and Columbia, SC. The police needs to enforce the ordinance and the law keeping homeless people from hanging out there.
ReplyDeleteWe need more cops walking the beat in downtown, especially in criminal hot spot areas like St James Park and surroundings, 1st/Santa Clara, Fountain Alley, San Salvador (from 2nd to 10th), the area south of SJSU. We don't need an army of cops down there, just need them to be doing a better job of patrolling the area.
ReplyDeleteWe also need new developments in those areas in order to take away all of the hang outs for the undiserables. I hope the Swenson and 1st/St John projects move forward so they bring more people into the area....also the Fountain Alley lot.
Could not agree more, especially the spots you pointed out.
DeleteCould not agree more, especially the spots you pointed out.
ReplyDelete