Community Awareness

1. Hello,
I am a citizen, residing in Jersey City, NJ, who has become highly concern at
the amount of crime that has taken over this city. Too many young women and men
are becoming casualties of these streets. This sentiment is being felt
throughout our country. A city that takes a person about 20min to drive
through, is having difficulty in monitoring the criminal activity that is taking
place. Politics should not only be about holding meetings, to discuss how much
more land does this city have to build more unaffordable condos. Politics should
not be overly concern about bringing in big businesses that are only going to
benefit those in office. Politics main concern should be about the people.
Let's concentrate more on how this city is going to prevent 2 more young men
from getting shot and lay dying on the streets. Let's concentrate on how to
prevent a 5 yr old child from being shot in broad daylight. This city can
contiune to be greedy and build expensive housings and sellout to the biggest
companies to boast the job market. But at some point you have to realize, if
murders continue to plaque this city, there will be no one alive to live in
those condos or work those jobs. Citizens of this country are your best
commodity, politicians should start taking stock in them. This city no longer
needs a revitalization, it needs a stabilization.
Gun Buy Back Program
Guns are playing a major role in our society today. At this point, it may be
hard to get all the guns off the streets. The “Gun Buy Back Program“ is not much
of a success because all that is being offer, is the value of the gun. The
amount of $100.00 is not going to satisfy a person who can make more money, by
using it, to rob someone. The money given to these individuals must be enough to
compensate them for turning in a gun that may be questionable. Raise the “buy
back amount“ to $500.00 for a hand gun. Also, maybe we should concentrate on
controlling the ammunition that is used for these guns. Lets regulate how much
ammunition can be purchase legally. We can start recording the names of all
individuals that make these purchases and what the purchase consisted of.
We live in a society where money determines the life or death of an individual.
The crime problem in our cities are not going to be resolved unless the
communities are active in helping prevent and assist in solving these crimes.
Our war against drugs, gangs and guns revolves around money. Money rules the
evil and the corrupt minds of this world. It“s true that it makes the world go
around. Our youth is influence by anyone that offers them money. We need to
use money to influence them back. They have already become accustom to having
money in their pockets from the drug deals, the robberies and the guns. Lets
make it possible for them to receive one large sum of money in return for
information pertaining to a crime. Money would cause a family member to turn
in a family member. It would cause a friend to inform on another friend. This
is the power of money.
Money will speak louder than any words, when it comes to convincing a person to
come forward with information. I believe in order to fight the criminal
behavior of this world, we must do it with money.
I suggest we implement a REWARD PROGRAM SYSTEM. A reward system that will
benefit anyone who is willing to “drop a dime“ on any crime or illegal activity
that has taken place or is about to take place. These individuals must be given
the option of remaining anonymous, no matter who they are. They must be assured
that their identity is never reveal, if that is their request. Most people
don“t get involve, for fear of retaliation. Eliminate that fear. Create a
system that allows a person to acknowledge the criminal and crime, and not
suffer any consequences. The dollar amounts offer via this award program system
must be sufficient enough, to warrant a person“s involvement. If the government
or state is unwilling to set up a fund for this program, then use the millions
of dollars that is confiscated off the streets. Put the money back on the
streets in the effort of solving crimes. Once a street crime is committed in
a neighborhood, whether it is an robbery, rape, murder or shooting, our local
cable television needs to broadcast the crime. Citizens need to be let aware of
what is happening on the streets of Jersey City. This will at least give them
the insight to be careful of their surroundings. During the broadcast of these
crimes, the phone number of the Reward Program System should always be display,
in hopes of someone calling in with information. The community, I am sure wants

2. sure wants to get involve. A way to get them involve is to inform them of
crimes as soon as they happen, not 2 days later.
Another helpful tool is to set up visual signs throughout the city, ( similar to
those used on the roads for traffic.) Uselize these signs to display "Crime
Alerts". Only broadcast on these signs crimes such as shootings, rapes,
robberies and child aductions. If withnesses are giving you a detail
description of vehicles that were used in the crime, broadcast the description
on these visual panels. If the identity of an assailant is known for sure,
broadcast the name and picture on these signs. Every crime alert should have a
warning for citizens not to approach any suspects, but to call the crime alert
phone number. I find the camera system, which is set up in some areas of the
city, helps in reducing some street crimes. However, it is not a deterrent for
those who persist in reckless criminal behavior.
The Reward Program System
A system that is manned by paid individuals or volunteers. Each worker is
screen via a background check. A 1-800 number is provided to the public. This
program should be advertised via a variety of outlets. Individuals are
encourage to call in with any information pertaining to a crime. They do not
have to give their names or information about themselves, only information about
the crime. They are given a passcode after speaking with a representative.
They would call back with this passcode and be able to confirm if an arrest was
made, as a result of their information. If we are able to make an arrest base
on the caller s tip, the reward money will then be processed in any form�
(except cash) that the caller request.
If more than one caller s information about the same crime leads to an arrest,�
then each caller should be entitled to an reward. Entitlement of the reward
should not be based on a conviction. An inquiry to the government is needed as
to whether reward money should be taxed under this program.
REWARDS
$2,000.00 for information leading to an arrest of the perpetrators of a crime.
$1,000.00 for information in the prevention of a crime.
Ms. Debra Evans