[RP TownTalk] suspicious activity?

[Roland Walker]

> This increase deserves a brick wall.
...
> (upgrade the salaries over several years--and they must be upgraded
...
> You need to call the mayor and council and talk it over with them. Or talk to Jack Jones
...
> And show up to the meetings.

When you reach the point at which you are advocating specific policies
for the town and advocating specific actions by its citizens, I think
you should also provide some important context by revealing to readers
that you do not live here.

R

On 5/16/07, CHRISTINA DAVIS <book-smart at verizon.net> wrote:
>
> 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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