FUND LAW ENFORCEMENT, NOW

      I HAVE TO WRITE THE MAYOR OF PORTLAND, OFEGON, AND OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.  THEY APPROVED MORE FUNDING, FOR PORTLAND POLICE, FOR NEXT TERM.  IT'S NOT ENOUGH.  RESPONSE TIMES ARE DAYS, NOT MINUTES.  WE HAVE HOLD TIMES, FOR 911 CALLS.

     AS A PROUD DEMOCRAT, I SUPPORT PRES. REAGAN'S AGENDA, FROM THE 1980'S, TO FUND LAW ENFORCEMENT PATROLS.  WE SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS, ON SHIFT, TO RESPOND TO EVERY CALL, IMMEDIATELY.  IN ADDITION, PATROLS SHOULD DRIVE DOWN EVERY STREET, IN THE CITY, TWICE PER WEEK, TO REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, INCIDENCES OF VANDALISM, DAMAGED STREET SIGNS, ETC.  THEY SHOULD ASK PASSERSBY IF THEY'VE NOTICED ANY UNUSUAL ACTIVITY, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, RECENTLY.

     WE SHOULD HAVE A CRIMEWATCH PORTLAND NGO, TO FUND A HOTLINE, TO REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY.  THEY CAN FUND SCHOOL PROGRAMS, FOR OFFICERS TO EDUCATE SCHOOLCHILDREN, ON PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, BICYCLE SAFETY, AND HOW TO REPORT CRIMES.

     POLICE OFFICERS MUST BE APPRECIATED, BY THEIR COMMUNITY.  THEN, WE CAN INTERACT SAFELY.  WE SHOULD SEE THEM, IN UNIFORM, TAKING A BREAK, IN OUR RESTAURANTS AND DONUT SHOPS.  THEY KEEP THEIR EYES AND EARS, OPEN.  WHEN NOT OVERWORKED, THEY'RE FRIENDLY AND APPROACHABLE.  THEY KEEP OUR STREETS SAFE.

     WE DON'T WANT DRUGS.  WE DON'T WANT CRIME.  WE WANT A SAFE CITY, TO RAISE OUR FAMILIES.  WE WANT SAFE SCHOOLS.  WE WANT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS.  WE WANT FAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES.  WE WANT FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES.  WE MUST FUND, AND SUPPORT, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

     PLEASE, WRITE IN.