An open letter to Mayor Bret Schundler:
Dear Mayor:
According to the most recent Uniform Crime Report from the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, between 1998 and 1999 crime in Jersey City increased by 1.5 percent. This increase wouldn’t be so remarkable for a city of our size were it not for the fact that overall crime in New Jersey declined by 6 percent over the same period.
Indeed, during this period, crime levels in most of the states other major cities experienced significant reductions. Newark was down 8.4 percent. Elizabeth was down 14.1 percent. Even the troubled city of Camden recorded a 14.4 percent reduction in crime. The entire report can be found at the departments web site www.state.nj.us/lps/.
Can you, as mayor, tell us what is it about Jersey City that has it so out of synch with the rest of the state, and moving in the wrong direction on crime? Have mismanaged budgets lead to an overburdened police force? Or have we failed to learn by example in the enforcement of the quality of life type matters that has been proven to have a positive effect on the levels of more serious crime? (See New York City). Finally, is there any plan to reverse this disturbing trend?
If our crime rate is on an upswing during these times of unprecedented economic growth, I fear for this city when times aren’t so good.
Name withheld