[Press Release] : City Manager*s Statement on North Garth - August 18, 2006

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City Manager’s Statement on North Garth - August 18, 2006

Contact: Bill Watkins
City Manager
573-874-6338            

I’ve spent a lot of time talking about a vision for Columbia’s
future.  But there’s something happening here and now that we must
see*and must stop.

Citizens are reporting prostitution, drug-related activity and other
crimes along North Garth Avenue and some connecting streets. This hurts
people living in the central city. They feel under attack, and it’s
not an acceptable quality of life in Columbia.

*	Since early August of 2005, Police made 443 arrests in the area
*	They made 74 drug calls there in the first part of this year*
*	Served 14 narcotics search warrants there since January 1*
*	And conducted three drug operations in the North Garth area
since May, with 16 arrests and 10 on narcotics charges

Citizens need protection from people who don’t respect their safety. 
We’re aware that some of these people are not permanent Columbia
residents and are only interested in what they can get out of us.  

They do not have a Constitutional right to keep law-abiding citizens
from moving freely in their neighborhoods. They do not have any right to
intimidate families or set up their own world order in the central
city.

I want a partnership with citizens in the central city. I want to help
assure their rights to enjoy safe homes and safe movement.

Effective immediately:

* Columbia Police will concentrate stepped-up efforts to aggressively
enforce laws against drugs, prostitution, and other nuisance crime
activity in the area.

* The Community Action Team, Fourth Squad, Narcotics Unit, and
members of the Patrol Division will jointly work on special assignments
in the area.

* The Neighborhood Response Team will step up code enforcement
activities with both rental and owner-occupied units under review.

* Owners of vacant housing will be contacted to improve physical
conditions and help curb the illegal activity taking place there.  If
there’s no cooperation, we’ll start legal expedited proceedings.

And I ask neighbors in the central city to call CRIMESTOPPERS with any
information that could help stop these crimes. You’re the first line
of protection for your families and property. Your neighborhood belongs
to you*not to criminals. 

- 30 -
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