[RP TownTalk] suspicious activity?

Thu May 17 03:04:05 UTC 2007

Actually, the iteration of Neighborhood Watch you are speaking of was the
offshoot of a program begun by Hyattsville and West Riverdale Park residents
near Crescent Cities and then later expanded by the council, of which I was
a lead, and the Riverdale Park Police Department. Mr. Archer and his
neighbor patrolled the town, as did many current and former residents. He
cannot take credit for starting the program.

However, since this last program was before the widespread use of cell
phones, it seems to me that it would be time to restart one or several
programs given the rise in crime in all of the town's neighborhoods and the
"new" technology available. Crime in town is cyclical, with good and bad
times, and is mostly of opportunity (MS-13 notwithstanding).

And for the tax increase: What the heck is going on? My phone and email have
been buzzing like a hive of bees. I think back to when my husband and I
bought our first house in town in 1990, for $104,900 and an FHA loan, and it
took everything we had to do it. A tax increase of any significant measure
would have driven us out of Riverdale Park right then. I know all the
tricks, after having served on the council for a decade (and being a good
Democrat), and I and others even unsuccessfully campaigned to remove the tax
cap to allow for more moderate increases. What is proposed now is
inexcusable, and given the town's long anti-tax history (caps, referendums,
borrowing within a set limit to do major road work in phases or make capital
improvements, special taxes with sunset provisions), residents and business
owners could rightfully call that a violation of public trust.

Throughout the town's history, small increases have been met with moderate
resistance. This increase deserves a brick wall. The town always has and
will continue to need resources, but the expenses can be phased in over time
(upgrade the salaries over several years--and they must be upgraded--not all
at once; stop calling Douglas Jemal names on this list and sit down with him
and talk about the Town Center). I have given these and other suggestions to
the dozen or so people I have heard from in the past week. You need to call
the mayor and council and talk it over with them. Or talk to Jack Jones and
others about a new tax structure that penalizes derelict/underdeveloped
properties and lowers the rate for people who improve and maintain their
properties (Riverdale Park would be the first in the state to adopt this). 

And show up to the meetings. 

Chris Davis 

-----Original Message-----
From: towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org
[mailto:towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org] On Behalf Of Alan Thompson and
Sarah Wayland
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 1:13 PM
To: Marc Molino
Cc: TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] suspicious activity?

I've suspected for a number of months that the parking lot is where some 
drug activity is happening. I've seen the exact behavior you describe a 
number of times back there. Also seen one car waiting, another drive up, 
and then both cars drive away.

For a while, it was also happening on 48th St next to my house. I called 
the police every time. They don't do business there anymore.

Lisa asked for guidance - the answer is "If it looks odd, call."

Years ago, Vernon Archer set up a neighborhood watch program in town. We 
patrolled the streets regularly, and coordinated closely with the police. 
They provided scanners, and backup.

I learned a few important things during that time:

(1) If you think it's suspicious, it probably is.

(2) Let the police sort it out. They are professionals, and they will not 
harass people if they are doing nothing wrong.

(3) Patrols can work because when criminals see people on patrol, they 
know the neighbors are watching. But we can't be on patrol all the time, 
and many crimes actually happen during the day (as did the recent break-in 
on Queensbury.)

(4) The MOST helpful thing is for neighbors to talk to each other and
watch out for each other. Know your neighbors. Know their schedules. Watch 
for anything wierd. And if *anything* looks suspcicious, call the police.

---

I think it might be a really good idea for us to have a "Neighborhood 
Watch" meeting with someone from the police department. Working together, 
we can really help them to do their job effectively.

-Sarah

On Wed, 16 May 2007, Marc Molino wrote:

> I don't know if this quite warrants suspicious activity, but my son and I 
> were out biking last evening a little after 7pm. We biked down to the end
of 
> Lafayette where it meets up with Rivertech Rd. At the corner was an old
Chevy 
> pickup truck w/cab (light blue with silver doors) dropping off a guy who 
> walked through the path up to the train tracks.
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