Interesting opinion by Terry Simonson...

[MH2010]

I found this posted on the FOP website (www.FOP93.com). It almost brought a tear to my eye![]

If we can't keep our streets safe, it's time to look for new
leadership at city hall
by Terry Simonson

Tulsa is in the middle of one of the most dangerous times in at least
the last two decades. It's the danger of local terrorism. The greatest
daily threat to our security is not from some terrorist organization on
the other side of the world but from the thugs, thieves, predators, and
murderers that live right here.

We are in Code Red and its time that everyone stood up and told the
Mayor and Council that we have had enough. And either they do something
about it right now or we'll put people in office who believe it's more
important to be tough than to be nice. For once it would be good if the
Mayor would act really mad about this and stop the political bladder
than just insults people

Everyone knows that our locally elected officials are directly
accountable for fighting crime and protection our homes, families,
property, and businesses. It's their first job. It's their most
important job. And it should be their first priority. Not airport
investigations, Mayoral appointments, recalls, ribbon cuttings,
international travel, and all of the other distractions.

Fighting crime takes two kinds of leadership: the professional
managerial leadership that comes from the Chief of Police and the
political leadership that comes from the people we elected,
particularly the Mayor. The Chief is doing his best. The others are not.

Less than a month ago, Fox 23 did a flash poll asking "do you think
Tulsa is a safe place to live? A whopping 87% said "No." Every night
on every news channel, why are the first three stories about the terror
running rampant across Tulsa? Because the bad guys aren't scared.
Instead, we are.

This is donkey backward. People are robbing banks at 11:00 in the morning.
And we wonder why there are no new announcements about businesses
coming to Tulsa or why the suburban cities are growing so fast and Tulsa is
shrinking?

Come on, it's not rocket science.

In a recent USA Today poll of the worst city in each state for car
thefts, Tulsa was the city listed for Oklahoma. Not Oklahoma City, a
city at least twice as large as us. And out of the 330 cities studied,
Tulsa was number 50 on the list of the worst cities. There were 4,522
car thefts in 2003. Don't think your car insurance rates are as high as
they are just because of teenage drivers.

The Council has the opportunity to do what the Mayor was not
accountable or strong enough to do: pass a city budget that funds
public safety first. I suggest they do more than the Mayor has recommended!
Sure, there will be things in city government they will have to cut or
scale back. But who really cares about the well being of the folks in
city hall or if all of the other things we spend money on are funded
when your children are too scared to go outside, your elderly parent is
robbed in broad day light, your car is stolen, your house is broken
into while you are at work, or your business is vandalized.

Don't blame the police. Blame the people who won't give them the tools,
resources, and leadership that sends this message to the bad guys: we
are coming after you and will take you out.

The only population in Tulsa going up is the victim population. Our
status quo is the worst and most dangerous place to be.

It's time for everyone to put out a Red Flag in front of your home
and business and send a message to city hall. We are in Code Red.
Either get tough or get out!