In chairing the Safety Committee for the TLNA, we are keeping a list of concerns expressed to us.  We recently had the opportunity of speaking with a number of our neighbors in preparation for the March 15 meeting with the Madison Police at the TLNA Meeting.

While the issues cover a range of issues, it is important not to dismiss any of them out of hand.  The variety of problems is a symptom of some of the larger influences on the neighborhood, and it is important to monitor them as we find solutions.  It is also important not to minimize any problems that may not affect individuals directly and, at bottom, not to accept any crimes and illegal behavior as inevitable.

The main issues are as follows:

Vandalism, including vandalism to private property and vandalism to businesses

Damage to cars, including car burnings and the theft of attached plows

Tagging graffiti on both public and private surfaces

Speeding on East Gorham and East Johnson

Speeding by city vehicles and busses

Disregard for pedestrians at crosswalks and near schools

Noisy parties

Illegal parking, including parking that blocks intersections and crosswalks

Lack of enforcement for speeding, vandalism, and other illegal activities

To address these and other concerns, we have invited Captain Cole, Lieutenant Stephanie Bradley Wilson and Lieutenant John Davenport to the TLNA meeting on Thursday, March 15.  We have already met with them at a meeting the Madison Police convened to discuss issues in the Central District of Madison, that is, police districts 401 to 410, which extend from the west end of campus, south to Meriter Hospital, and east to Atwood Avenue.  In representing the TLNA at this meeting, we raised the issues listed above and discussed some of the challenges other areas are facing.  While the police will discuss the issues in more detail, it became clear in the meeting that improvements will never occur without an awareness of the problems and citizen involvement in reporting issues to the police.

Again, call 255-2345 for non-emergency numbers.  This number is staffed by individuals who are not police officers, who prioritize calls for the them. If you do not receive a timely response, you should call again.  Some calls, such as noise complaints, will disappear after an hour, and it is important to call back if the problem persists.  Other complaints are, by necessity prioritized differently.  Of course, call 911 for any life-threatening emergencies.

The police need to know our concerns and issues.  Please plan to attend the meeting on March 15 to learn about their initiatives and to discuss our neighborhood with the officers listed above.

Sal Calomino

Jim Zychowicz

Safety Chairs

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