I believe that neighborhood safety is the number one issue facing our city today, and enhancing our security will be my number one priority as mayor.
I personally relate to those impacted by crime because I have been a victim of crime myself. Over 20 years ago while returning home from a shopping trip to Target with my family, we were carjacked at gunpoint in front of our home. My husband was shot and killed. Instead of leaving the city, I chose to stay and raise my two young children here. I was already involved in our neighborhood association and decided to run for alderman when my current alderman stepped down.
Earlier this month I released a comprehensive plan to address neighborhood safety and crime prevention in our city because I understand firsthand what it is like to be a victim of crime.
More police, more pay, more training, more equipment. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is currently understaffed. We need to add 200 additional uniformed police officers immediately. We also need to raise the police pay so we can attract and retain quality police officers and make their pay competitive with surrounding police departments.
We also need more police training and purchase equipment like police body cameras and dash cameras and more non-lethal equipment like Tasers.
And, as mayor, I will enhance our recruitment efforts to ensure that as we hire police officers, we have a great group of men and women to choose from and that our force looks like our diverse city.
Prevention. We need common sense gun regulation, and I have introduced two bills at the Board of Aldermen. The first bill would ban assault weapons in the City of St. Louis, and the second bill would require guns that are left unattended in cars be secured in a locked box that is permanently affixed to the vehicle. Criminals are breaking into cars and stealing unattended guns and then using those guns to commit additional crimes.
Recreation and education programs for youth. We need to find more constructive ways for kids to fill their time. I believe we should double the city’s investment in kids and create more recreation and education programs for kids.
Anti-violence conflict-resolution initiatives. Some cities have had successes curbing violence through community-based conflict-resolution training and mediation initiatives. I want to expand the use of community-based anti-violence programs in St. Louis city.
Alternatives to prosecution and incarceration. I don’t believe we can arrest our way out of our crime problem, which is why I want to provide money for a challenge grant to city prosecutors. The funds will be available for programs that prosecutors choose to implement policies that will create alternatives to incarceration and felony convictions for youthful, non-violent offenders or expand the use of drug-courts or provide opportunities for individuals who are not yet hardened, dangerous criminals, to avoid incarceration and find another path.
Protecting our most vulnerable citizens. Our homeless citizens are vulnerable and need our help. Homeless citizens are frequent victims of crime, and without a place to live, it is even more difficult for the police to keep them safe and for them to get back on their feet.
I believe we should fund initiatives grounded in the “housing first” model as better care and support for homeless citizens should be an important city priority.
Vacant buildings. Vacant buildings and unkempt vacant lots provide fertile breeding grounds for criminal behavior ranging from petty vandalism to violent felonies. These conditions create anxiety in neighborhoods and interfere with residents’ ability to feel safe and secure. It’s time for St. Louis to tackle this problem. I will commit additional funds to transfer, demolish, and/or maintain these properties.
If we commit the necessary resources and maintain a strong sense of purpose, we can get this crime problem under control.
To read my entire neighborhood safety/ crime prevention plan, please visit www.lydakrewson.com.
Lyda Krewson, alderman for the 28th Ward, is a Democratic candidate for mayor in the March 7 primary election.
