September 29, 2011
Dear Mr. King, Ms. Hascup, and Elected Officials,
I wish to commend Chief Scanlon, Sgt. Diana Drummey, Cdr. Laszlo Waczek, and Community Relations Officer Lea Corbin for agreeing to meet with our neighborhood group on very short notice on Wednesday, September 28 at 4pm. News media got wind of it and we were on TV. http://www.10news.com/news/29335573/detail.html
This get-together arose quickly as a result of the most recent and very serious home burglary in our neighborhood. We consider our neighborhood to be as well-organized, prepared, and informed as an area can be. We all watch out for one another, stay in touch, and convene often for social events.
Perhaps this closeness and sense of security has made the recent criminal acts even more terrifying, as the 92 residents who convened in our front yard are both furious and frightened out of their wits to think that someone may enter their home, often at night while they are sleeping, and rob them of their treasured possessions and family heirlooms.
Chief Scanlon updated us on the crimes committed, tallied the financial and emotional losses, and characterized the methods of the predators. Since there were no forced entries, victims must now try to recall what installers, repairmen, gardeners, housekeepers, caregivers and other visitors they trusted to be in their homes. It is very troublesome to wonder which individual may be guilty.
The Police Department can only do so much in the way of crime prevention, and law enforcement cannot protect us from ourselves and our own hospitable personalities. We all want to trust people, and sometime feel guilty about checking out someone before hiring them. This perceived weakness in no way condones the crimes that are being committed.
Therefore, under the present circumstances, it is time to move to strict enforcement of Coronado’s ordinance which requires every person or company which provides goods or services within our community to have a Business License. Please seehttp://www.coronado.ca.us/department/division.php?fDD=5-12
“The purpose of the Business License is to help pay for police and fire protection, fire and crime prevention, and many other community services.”
All homeowners and service providers must accept responsibility to insure that every person who is paid to provide services is licensed and registered at City Hall, including the names of employees and subcontractors. Only those who have something to hide will refuse to be licensed, whether for a one-time job or ongoing service.
A visible document should be provided to display on the service provider’s vehicle, which will assist residents, police officers and code enforcement personnel to quickly see who isn’t licensed. Residents should never hesitate to call the City Clerk’s office at 522-7320 or the Police Department at 522-7350 to check on individual or company. Also, a Business License is required for anyone going door-to-door advertising.
Since residents are terrified, and we have a national zero-tolerance level for terrorism, I am asking for complete support from residents and City management to strictly enforce the Business License requirement. Many thanks to Chief Scanlon and his staff for meeting with us. It was a very productive discussion and exchange of ideas, and we look forward to hearing your suggestions on how to keep Coronado a Clean, Quiet, and Safe community.
Yours truly,
Jerry Toci
Approximately 90 concerned Coronado residents listened to Police Cheif Lou Scanlon discuss the increase in crime and silver flatware thefts on the island.
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