Dear Council Members,
I am wri�ng regarding the urgent need for more community policing, specifically around Safeway and downtown a�er school. Last week there was a fight between two high school students that was widely “atended” and filmed with a disturbing social media Lord of the Flies zeitgeist. See atached videos.
Fights like this are unacceptable in the middle of the day in a space that is used by a significant por�on of our community. As I’m sure Council is aware, fights have also escalated into murder as is the case in a Santa Rosa High School. It is paramount that the school and the community work together to prevent fights from happening and escala�ng to much more serious harm. htps://www.ktvu.com/news/student-dies-a�er-stabbing-at-high-school-in-santa-rosa Social media escalates tensions and drives dangerous performance risk taking in teens. We need to have adults present to signal that social norms are expected and that social rules are enforced, especially at school and in public spaces.
As you can see in the video, Myriah Volk, the ED of the Chamber of Commerce, broke up the fight. It was a risk that she took but she should have not been the person to intervene in this scenario.
The City needs to work with Commercial Landlords and businesses to make sure that common spaces are not the site of violence and mayhem.
The City also needs to support the local landlords in keeping their spaces free of squaters and garbage as it presents a public health issue. I have been in communica�on with Piazza Hospitality regarding squaters and trash on their lot. I have also contacted the Police Department about squaters and trash on the El Favrito Lot on Main Street. See atached photographs.
If the City wants to support our local businesses and make sure that commercial spaces don’t pose health risks with garbage and squaters, the City needs to work with landlords to keep space liter, graffi� and squater free.
It is a huge drawback for our local businesses to have lots full of garbage in the middle of our shopping district and large brawls taking place in the middle of day.
I suggest that the Planning Department start contac�ng commercial landlords and working with them to make sure their proper�es are safe and atrac�ve so they don’t nega�vely impact the surrounding businesses.
Best,
Kate Haug