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Date: 7/23/2008
by Stephanie Marudas
image credit: Wendy Daughenbaugh
Last night, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey stood on his feet for more than an hour as he fielded questions and comments from South Philly residents.
Ramsey addressed concerns about curfew enforcement for minors, quality of life issues, and how citizens can improve their relationships with the police. He told folks that while illegal gun seizures by police are up this year under his helm, the courts must also do their part and impose stiffer sentences to frighten potential offenders.
One resident asked the commissioner about the department's plan to expand the number of video surveillance cameras from 26 to 250 by the end of the year. Ramsey responded by saying that he had ordered the additional cameras, but the visual quality of the cameras was so shoddy that the department is now waiting for a new order. The commissioner acknowledged that the delay is a setback since expanded surveillance is one way he's proposing to prevent crime.
Pennsport resident Rene Goodwin asked the commissioner one of the most loaded questions of the evening. Known in the community for her opposition to the pending casinos along the Delaware River waterfront, Goodwin prefaced her question by saying that police officials previously told her that 165 officers, construction of a new police station, and various equipment would be needed to police the two casinos. All making for a price tag of $17.5 million.
Goodwin asked Ramsey if he would rather spend the $17.5 million on policing casinos, or use it to cover crime fighting operations and other needs on the force.
Ramsey dodged the question with a witty remark. He told Goodwin that since moving to Philadelphia in January, he wouldn't dare give a non-opinion on an opinionated issue like the casinos.
The commissioner did take to heart the comments of one audience member, Emily Sowell, who coordinates the Freedom School summer program in South Philadelphia. She told Ramsey about a recent playground spat that erupted last week after a group of white neighborhood kids blasted racial slurs towards her mainly black summer campers. Sowell says her campers are now afraid to return to Burke Park where they had been playing everyday after camp. In response, Ramsey promised Sowell that he would stop by the summer camp and personally talk with the kids to distill their fears. |
