Safe Neighborhoods Benicia: Police Chief Spagnoli weighs in

Safe Neighborhoods Benicia

SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS BENICIA- Dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the quality of life in our hometown, Benicia, California, through better crime prevention and community involvement. Identify the problems, strategize, prioritize, execute, and evaluate. Eliminate roadblocks to progress. We are all part of the solution; residents, the Benicia Police Department, the Benicia City Council, all of us. If we prioritize it, we can solve it. This is your city, your home…protect it.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Police Chief Spagnoli weighs in

Ross,
We can follow up with you in person on the specific questions you have listed below and crime prevention strategies found to be effective in Benicia. I can understand why the safety and security of the bike/pedestrian walkway/ tunnel, is a priority for homeowners. Keeping the city safe is a priority for the police department. As a Department, we pride ourselves on the very low crime rate in the City, in addition to being one of the safest cities in Solano County.

Officer Fred Ayala is the beat officer assigned to work with you on the issues brought up in your emails, and can be contacted via email at fayala@ci.benicia.ca.us or via phone at 707-745-3412 to set up a time to meet that is convenient for you. Officer Ayala can also provide you with any crime statistics related to the tunnel or immediate area, in addition to being a liaison with the other City Departments.

We look forward to working with you and your neighbors in the future.

Sincerely,
Sandra Spagnoli

Sandra SpagnoliChief of PoliceCity of Benicia200 East L StreetBenicia, CA 94510(707) 746-4265sspagnoli@ci.benicia.ca.us

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Benicia Residents Speak Out

About our terrible streets. Have we been forgotten by the City???

I remember you as a proud resident of Benicia when you drove me around the well-paved streets and lanes of your affluent city. That was long ago. Apparently, Times they were a-changing... At least that is what the pictures on your blog alarmingly suggest. - HM

Every time ...and I return home in the evening, we are pretty shocked, slowing to about 10 mph on P Street to keep our car suspension from being further damaged (both our cars now make strange sounds in the rear suspension).  We think -- What sort of town do we have here?  Don't we have any pride?  What must visitors think of us?  (We had better take them the other way to 2nd Street and turn at McDonald's!)  For some reason, our city can't take care of even our most basic needs. - GC

Does not hearing from the Mayor surprise you? Not me!

Thanks Tom and Christina! - JS

[Mayor Patterson responded 9/20]

I actually use military in lnstead of either o or n street as they are equally as bad - JF

I am in complete agreements with these sentiments about P Street.  I think we should follow up with something strong -- a petition or whatever.  Whoever takes charge, you can count on my support. - GC

Completely agree. I was just saying the same thing. - MP

Well said!!! I agree! - SD

In spite of the deplorable condition of the road, we take it as it's the most convenient way home. I'm waiting for it to chew up the tires. I don't think it can survive another winter. I can't imagine another street in Benicia needing more attention than East O! - LR

Graffiti can destroy a city if you let it go.

Ross, how sad!! I hate graffiti. After moving from Salinas, I thought we wouldn't have to put up with it here. Where are the cameras? They would pay for themselves in a short time.

Hate and Stupidity is in the same category as far as I'm concerned......when this stuff is written it is with intent.....not done without thought. I have been a victim of this type of hate my entire life.

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In regards to the concerns expressed by my neighbor, Ross Sagun, it is clear to me who is being targeted here. Our United States Department of Justice should be made aware of this

atrocity, especially so close to a United States of America Presidential election.

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My interpretation of the Chief's remarks is not that she is dismissing the possibility of a hate crime but is just making a calculated response based on the law, which could have specific provisions which have to be met before a "category" can be applied. It could be that the vandal is just some stupid a-hole who does not even know what an arab is, and furthermore may themselves be of African American descent!

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A disappointing reaction from the chief......very sad, and frightening
that this type of behavior is not taken seriously. For those of us
living in this neighborhood it is unacceptable..

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Unfortunately this is reflection of the racist attitude that is
becoming oh so prevalent during this election. If caught these culprits should spend time in jail, perform extended hours of community service and attend classes on racial tolerance.

Sadly the recent Republican political rallies where only until Friday (Senator McCain, to his credit tried to stop these ridiculous racial attacks) are feeding the flames of hatred and creating the type of behavior Mr. Sagun has displayed in these pictures.

We are way past kids just being bored or stupid......this is very dangerous and I would hope the Benicia Police will step up and increase patrols.

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I was going to ask you how things were going re the vandalism. Besides providing frequent patrols I see no easy solution.

Why did I start this blog?

The purpose of this blog is to coalesce our community to fight back and reclaim our safety, serenity, and peace of mind. We will thank those that help us and question those that oppose our agenda of making Benicia a safer and better place to live.

I hope that you will join me in this important effort. We, as residents, are in this together whether we like it or not. If one neighbor's property is graffitied, we are all graffitied. If one person's property is damaged or stolen, we are all victimized.

Thanks to our collective efforts the local graffiti problem has been contained. Now, another important issue has arisen; the deteriorating condition of Benicia's streets.

Let's join together to protect and improve our wonderful town and the quality of life that it has to offer.

Let's make Benicia truly the best place to live, not just in words, but in substance.

In solidarity,
Ross Sagun

Mission Statement

The purpose of this blog is to coalesce our community to fight back and reclaim our safety, serenity, and peace of mind. We will thank those that help us and question those that oppose our agenda of making Benicia a safer and better place to live.I hope that you will join me in this important effort. We, as residents, are in this together whether we like it or not. If one neighbor's property is graffitied, we are all graffitied. If one person's property is damaged or stolen, we are all victimized.Let's join together to protect and improve our wonderful town and the quality of life that it has to offer.

Report suspicious activity immediately

Report suspicious activity immediately to the Benicia Police Department. They want our calls and do not need to contact you unless you desire it. You can remain anonymous if you like.

Things to immediately report include:

persons or vehicles unknown to the neighborhood loitering in the area,
groups of people just hanging around, especially at night, for no apparent reason,
trespassers,
anyone carrying spray paint or stick markers,
people that seem evasive,
anything that doesn't seem right.

Just call 911 for urgent issues, or 745-3412 (the police department's business number answered 24/7).

I have 745-3412 programmed into my cellphone as the very first entry for quick access.

Please, take the time to report suspicious activity. It is much better for the police to come up here and prevent a crime rather than take the crime report after the fact.

Benicia's History

Conceived in 1846, founded in 1847 by Rogert Semple and Thomas Larkin on land sold to them by General Mariano C. Vallejo, Spain's last Commandant General of the Mexican forces in California, for the grand sum of $100, Benicia was settled in 1848. It has the distinction of being the first American city founded in the Golden State by Anglo-Americans, as compared to earlier Spanish missions, forts and trading centers. The City was named in honor of Doña Francisca Benicia Carillo de Vallejo, the wife of General Vallejo. The name initially decided on was "Francisca," but soon had to be changed to avoid confusion when leaders of the rising young city of Yerba Buena were successful in obtaining the official designation of San Francisco for their town. The city was obliged to turn to the second of Senora Vallejo's names, and the city was re-christened Benicia. For more information, see http://www.beniciachamber.com/guide/history.html

What other cities are saying

"Graffiti delivers a message. It's a signal to other taggers; a deadly warning to rival gangs; a commentary on the kind of society in which youth earn respect from one another by vandalizing property." - Los Angeles Times

"Even though police say that less than 5 percent of the city’s graffiti is gang-related, it still represents a problem in terms of property values and economic development." - Rowlett, TX

"If you leave it up, you're giving up," - Fresno police Sgt. Todd Miller

"If you see it, report it and we'll "Wipe it Clean!"
Since "Graffiti Busters" began, the Basic City Services team has removed graffiti from over one thousand locations throughout the City. Graffiti Busters will remove graffiti on private property with the permission of the property owner." - Boston, MA