MARK-ALAN WHITTLE
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SAM LAWRENCE PROBLEM A POLICE ISSUE

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Mountain News (Hamilton)
After reading Mark Newman's assessment of the neighborhoods concerns (June 20) over escalating noise and vandalism at Sam Lawrence Park, one is left with the distinct impression that our Alderman Bill Kelly is urging the residents to take matters into their own hands in this regard. On the surface this noble gesture may sound good but it masks a deeper problem that needs to be addressed by those institutions empowered to address the residents concerns directly.
Last time I checked the institution responsible for eliminating vandalism and disregard for the quality of life of others would be the Hamilton Police Service. Having just received a council approved budget increase of almost 7% over last year, higher expectations should be the order of the day for Police Chief Robertson. As a man of action and resolve I am confident a police presence will deliver some assurance to the residents mentioned in Newman's article and ensure park visitors abide by the law and be of good behavior.
With respect to the issue of upkeep of the park, the responsibility for that task belongs to the Parks and Recreation department and the Beautification division presently having a hard time keeping up with the vandals in the park.
With more patrols forthcoming and a policy of zero tolerance to petty crime our Police are best equipped to clean up the problems at hand. This plan of action would bring immediate results for the residents which would allow them to use the time they where willing to commit to the responsibility of others to more pressing needs I'm sure.
Hopefully intervention by the Hamilton Police Service will allow cooler heads to prevail and ensure a "wild west" confrontation does not occur when citizens are emboldened by ward heeling politics to take matters of enforcement of the law into their "own hands".