Tired of the negative publicity

By Cathy Jensen

7/28/10

This past weekend I had the unpleasant opportunity to see KPIX Channel 5 broadcast yet another negative story about Vallejo, specifically citing the fact that at some times during the weekend – the city has only 6 police officers on duty (and no canine teams...and no SWAT teams – yadda-yadda-yadda).  The story ran at least twice on Saturday and again on Sunday morning.

While I was crafting my angry response to the Program Editor at Channel 5 – including links to many of the positive Facebook websites about Vallejo; I realized that those websites are really just “preaching to the choir”...and perhaps it is time to take another approach to all of this negative publicity.
Consider the following:

1.      Contact (and by this I mean “paper them to death” until someone takes notice) the various television and print “investigative reporters” and urge them to build a story about how we got there in the first place.  Urge them to interview the various candidates who ran for City Council and the Mayor’s seat – and get their “take” on what is happening.  Do the same with both the “Yes on A” and “No on A” entities.  Interview the current City Council. Interview the current and previous City Managers.  Interview those who others “name” while being interviewed.
            My guess would be that the conclusions to that story could range from outright graft and corruption – to finding Vallejo City leadership just being the laziest and dumbest on the planet.
2.      Start looking for solutions.
            Start with the story this weekend that the SFPD is going to train 15 civilians to work the low level cases – thereby freeing officers for the more imperative cases.  This is being funded by a 1 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT.  Has the City looked for grants to plug some of the budget “gaps”?
            The Oakland PD is working on a plan to use the 80 officers that have been laid off – as volunteers with the force – in their old neighborhoods.  This sounds like a “win-win” since the neighborhoods will be safer and the police officers will “keep current” on whatever requirements OPD has when they come back to work again.
            Then of course the other solution would be to do just what the City of Bell, California did last week...and “throw da bums out”.
3.      Finally one more “little” suggestion.  While we hear that our “faith based community” is actively involved in our communities – I see no notice of National Night Out events being sponsored in our community by churches (why does this seem like an obvious starting point?)

Comments

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Hello?   |August.01.2010 It's unfortunate that you couldn't write this without including an attack on "the faith community." It just creates unnecessary ill will and makes you look uninformed. The largest National Night Out event in Vallejo for several years has been hosted by a church: Emmanuel Temple in South Vallejo. It is having one again this year. Vallejoans of faith are and have been out there every day working to better our community--whether you know about it or not. It would be nice if you and others with this chip on your shoulders could join hands with the religious communities instead of always attacking and raising your fists at them.

Cathy   |July.29.2010 Hey "anonymous" -- I agree with you! I didn't move here until after that last election -- but having worked on many voter registration drives-I'd say that is certainly something that should be done. And the vote was so close -- it's hard to tell if either candidate captured the voters imagination - what a shame.

Anonymous   |July.29.2010 Hey Cathy, while you're passing out judgements, the mirror would be handy. Because it's you and the rest of us voters who elect people who openly take money and pay it back to the special interests ruining our city. It's our voter responsibility to read behind the propaganda and elect people who really want to help Vallejo, not just their buddies and those who will help them step up to higher office. It's all a big circle.

Dave Cary   |July.28.2010 How about educating and raising college ready young men and women of character by completely revolutionizing our schools? Then, maybe we wouldn't need so many officers. Maybe we could attract a businesses, some tax revenue and some jobs. Imagine that. See www.neweraschools.org for a completely different solution to Vallejo's problems.

watchingeye   |July.28.2010 Why don't we just contract out our police and fire and save a bundle of $$$$$!

Kim   |July.28.2010 A few months ago I was at work, my alarm on at home, and local TV said VPD announced they would no longer be answering alarm calls. I am like WHAT? So I called the station and gave them hell. My opinion is the PSU are pushing this info out to scare the public into tax increases. I also believe the powers that be have to bust out these unions because it is a problem in every city so they will underline Vallejo and its problems due to police/fire salary. This is going to be a painful reset for all.

Mr :)   |July.28.2010 How about Vallejo offer to hire the 80 Oakland cops for 1/2 the salary of Vallejo police + 401K(w 15% match)? Sounds good to me. "as volunteers with the force" Were paying you all with seniority.

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