LTC 296-2009 Mr. Herb Sosa - 9th Street Crime- .~<,;
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Nc t_TC# 296-2009 LETTER TO COMMISSION
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To Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission ° ~ ,
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FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager ~ ~ ~n r~
DAfE: October 29, 2009 _p
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SU~IeCr. Mr. Herb Sosa - 9"' Street Crime - r
This Letter to the City Commission is to provide information regarding the issues raised by
Mr. Herb Sosa about crime in his 9"'street neighborhood.
The crime issues (auto burglaries, vandalism; graffiti; etc.) raised by Mr. Herb Sosa in his
email of October 8, 2009 are among the most prevalent types of offenses that are committed
in his neighborhood. These types of larcenies are on the rise in part due to the current
Mr. Sosa s neighborhood, and is often a targeted area during the shift overlap. The Crime
Suppression Team has also been assigned periodically to the area as well as included as
nart of various Task Force initiative locations. There has been direct communication
Division Chief Riley, and Mr. Sosa. The South District Neighborhood Kesource uttlcer nas
also been in contact with Mr. Sosa regarding crime prevention recommendations toimprove
the safely of the neighborhood. Many of the proposed improvements were made by Mr.
Sosa and his neighbors although a need for increased lighting in the alleyways persists.
The Police Department has been responsive and at times proactive to the concerns raised
by Mr. Sosa, and there have also been numerous arrests of auto burglary and robbery
subjects in this area. It must be noted however, that the auto burglary crime issue is often
problematic as these criminals are seldom kept in jail for any great length of time and tend to
return to the area when released.
In an effort to improve the crime situation in this neighborhood, Neighborhood Resource
Officer (NRO), Deborah Doty arranged a SAFE COMMUNITY WALK through the South
District including Mr. Sosa's neighborhood which took place on October 28, 2009 as part of
the National Crime Night Out. The Flamingo Park West Homeowner s Association (HOA),
the Flamingo Park HOA, Code Enforcement, and the Homeless Outreach Team all
participated in this crime prevention event. During the walk, NRO Doty and South District
Captain Causey knocked on doors and solicited input from neighborhood residents
regarding their public safety concerns for their community.
The Police Department will continue to devote significant resources ensuring the safety of
this neighborhood, as well as, that of all the visitors and residents of our community.
JMGCNar