July 28, 2006

Article 43

To: SOS members and other interested parties

This summer has been an extremely slow period for SOS. We have had very little participation and almost no response to our email updates. The strength of the organization depends on an active membership. We started out like a ball of fire a little over a year ago, but we have gradually slipped into an apathetic mode. Our situation is similar to the voting turn out – not very good! I remember the Mayor saying “I have screamed from the roof tops for 2 years and no one paid any attention.â€? NOW I UNDERSTAND. It is human nature…we get fired up about something but as time passes we fall back into our daily routine and slowly forget our new agenda. We still have a crime problem in Savannah.

The good news is that the spotlight we put on crime in Savannah has saved lives. Our interim Police Chief has actively implemented new and better procedures for fighting crime. Many of the morale problems in the force have been identified and action is beginning to address some of the most grievous areas that need correction. There has been progress on hiring a new Police Chief and word is that we will have a new Chief very soon. The city is working on several projects for lights and cameras but to the best of my knowledge there is no long-term funding. Change is slow, but it seems to moving in the right direction.

I believe that everyone now understands that we have a major crime problem in Savannah that threatens our tourist industry and, more importantly, threatens the lives of all of our citizens. Research has proven in city after city all over the United States and Europe that lights and cameras have a dramatic effect towards reducing crime. Statics very from city to city but it is not unusual to see a 30 to 40% drop in violent crime after the introduction of lights and cameras. Lets recap: We have a crime problem and people are dying, we know that lights and cameras reduce crime, we are about to approve an 800 million SPLOST tax but there is no dedicated program to install lights and cameras in the city and the county. It would cost less than $15 million, or less than 2% of the total funds, to help protect our city.

Where is the outrage? Where is the accountability? What do we need to do so that we get the technology that will save lives in Savannah? Do you care? Have we forgotten how many have died in violent crime? In my opinion, it is very hard to justify a $160 million dollar jail for prisoners when we can’t afford to protect the tax paying citizens of Savannah and Chatham County. Someone needs to take a stand – if there is not room in the jail put them in tents. It just seems like common sense – we have a problem – we have a solution – just do it!

The reason for this email is that there is a lot of activity regarding SPLOST and plans and ideas for cameras and lights. SOS and Piggly Wiggly have joined together to provide funding for lights and cameras for a park downtown. Mike Horner is the Volunteer Project Manager. (Please help him if he calls.) Our idea is that if we can get one successful operation up and going, perhaps other business will initiate other projects. While we believe that this is a good project that we can implement in a reasonable amount of time, the best solution is to appropriate 15 million dollars of the SPLOST funds and get the job completed. Each of you knows someone who can help. It may be too late but please talk, write, email or whatever to anyone who can help us get lights and cameras installed throughout Savannah and Chatham County. The life you save may be your own!

Lets get involved again!!!!!

Thanks Martin