CBH-14 Correspondence – Raman Vasishth
From: Raman Vasishth [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2022 4:08 PM
To: CityClerk <[email protected]>; Tom Modica <[email protected]>; Council District 1 <[email protected]>; Council District 2 <[email protected]>; Council District 3 <[email protected]>; Council District 4 <[email protected]>; Council District 5 <[email protected]>; Council District 6 <[email protected]>; Council District 7 <[email protected]>; Council District 8 <[email protected]>; Council District 9 <[email protected]>; Mayor <[email protected]>; Wally Hebeish <[email protected]>
Subject: City Council Item 14 for 8/16/2022 meeting - Concerns over LBPD Responce times in closing the Ranger station
-EXTERNAL-
I am asking the city clerk to add this to line 14 of todays’ city council meeting:
I ask the city repeal the proposal to remove the Ranger Station in El Dorado Park or Provide a plan to maintain or improve the current response time and security For El Dorado Parks and particularly the Frontier train operator.
To All:
I am writing regarding Item 14, using this item to address the Parks & Recreation presentation last week.
Residents and the train operator are concerned the proposal to remove the officer (s) in the ranger/police station in El Dorado Park 2 off spring street North will result is slower response times to support the Frontier Train Operator who has been operating with the city for 30 years and invest considerable money in the attraction in spite of having been robbed twice. With the increasing intrusion of the homeless that borders the riverbed where violent crime is becoming increasing common, residents are concerned homeless will set up more camps within the parks, commit more crimes. . Efforts have been made to contact Police Chief Wally Hebeish, Councilman Daryl Supernaw and East Division Commander Michael Richens (all people the Mayor’s office asked me to contact), but they have not replied. Residents and the train owners are looking for a solution from LBPD & Parks, that residents in CD4 & 5 have already paid taxes for, to maintain security of our parks and neighborhood.
Conflicting information:
While the Parks Director has stated that the decision to remove police from El Dorado 2 was entirely that of the police and that the addition of ambassadors was the result of an increased budget. Residents have been cast in a state of doubt and confusion as the power point presentation made by the Parks Director links the LEOs two together with safety ambassadors. When asked, the Parks Directors did not know why he included that with his power point presentation.
Additional Safety Concerns:
Another concern is that in the last week, it was reported 2 bodies were found: one off the Duckpond off Studebaker and other in El Dorado Park 2. Prior to that, number police were involved with helicopters tracking an armed person in the riverbed who threatened residents. Residents have also expressed concerns during community meeting with the City that the building of a bike lane off Spring Street is now going to allow unsheltered people an artery from the most violent parts of the riverbed into the parks and their neighborhoods. Their transportation of choice are bikes. All this has come within the past 4 weeks or so. Homeless camps are setting up more frequently in CD4 parks, fires are being set. Residents want to know why the station is being removed and for the decision can be taken off the
table of a solution to improve response time can be proposed as we want more, not less police presence in our parks.
Park Operators:
We are concerned if parks lose the train operator, one that has been there for 30 years, there will be no chance of another operator coming in to replace because of the past reputation parks and city has in supporting businesses. We don’t know why the police/parks would chose to reduce support for the train operator that brings revenue to the park. Residents are concerned that if response time in El Dorado Park for the Frontier train and patrols diminish beyond what they are currently, the well see a 30 year institution leave the city. The risk reward in having need park security is worth the our taxpayers dollars spent especially if it means keeping the train and warning off increasing crime from unsheltered people growing in numbers in the area.
Warmest Regards,
Raman Vasishth
Neigborhood Leadership Project, 2019