Question 20

[Charlotte Chamber]

Can Charlotte reverse the growing perception that we are “easy on crime” and earn a reputation as a safe community?

[Steve Helms]

I support the policy of the new Police Chief to put more police "on the street", and the past policy to prioritize police resources in response to areas of high crime. The city and county administrations need to allocate funding to support necessary police enforcement, judicial manpower and facilities, and jails. The chamber or others need to monitor tangible results and demand accountability of all arms of government responsible. The chamber should lead efforts to provide civic organizations the support they need to provide job skills training and alternatative uses of energy for high risk individuals.

[John Nicolay]

The first thing that the chamber needs to do with respect to crime is dispense with the notion that the problem is "perception". Denial won't help. The facts are we have a significant and worsening problem. Effective solutions are caught up in constant fingerpointing among city, county and state politicians and staff. Unless all interested parties in our community get behind the creation of viable solutions, this will have an impact on future economic development success. We have always been able to boast a desirable quality of life. While Bob Morgan tells me he does not believe this is effecting current prospect volume, I strongly believe that if current crime trends continue, it will have a signifcant negative effect in the near future. Does the Chamber see this as being at the top of its agenda? Obviously not, as supported by crime being the 20th question out of 20. Should it be a higher priority for the Chamber to play an aggressive role? I say "yes".

[Felix Batton]

Yes, we can reverse the perception, if we change the reality. Our judicial system is a revolving door, which routinely puts career criminals back on the street. As long as we continue to allow the criminals to roam our streets, we will continue to have a crime problem. If we need to build more prision space, then we need to make that a priority. In the long run, it will prove to be a good investment. For now though, our reputation as being soft on crime, is well deserved.

[Glen Stephens]

Spending more money on places to keep criminals is NOT the answer. We need to flood the streets with police. We need to shorten response times. If we don't provide the criminals with an opportunity to commit crimes, fewer crimes will be permitted. If the citizens see the police, we will feel safe.