On Saturday, more than one hundred angry protesters marched on State Street calling for greater public safety. The Milpas Community Association organized the event in order to bring awareness to the recent crime wave happening in the area. Some of the crimes that have infected West Beach are robbery, break-ins, vandalism, public urination and defecation, panhandling, prostitution, and violent assault. West Beach business owner and resident, Holly Walters said, "We saw a temporary improvement, but now it's pretty bad again." Walters displayed photographs of curbs and sidewalks smeared with human excrement, which she took herself.
Records show that West Beach has had four break-ins in the last four weeks. One of Walters's neighbors is a young girl who lives alone. Her house was broken into by two men armed with knives. "We moved to Santa Barbara because it was safe, and now we don't feel safe," Walters commented.
West Beach also faces other crimes such as tagging. Some tags are so big that residents and business owners have to repaint entire walls. Tags can be found on curbs, sidewalks, and sign posts. This crime along with the others have been directly connected to the perceived rise in homelessness. One local business owner suggests that the city spread out the resources for homeless people throughout Santa Barbara to avoid dense concentrations of homeless like that that has occurred on Milpas Street.
One homeless man shouted out at the protesters, "One day you will not live in glass houses. You'll be outside like Jesus was! Remember Jesus Christ? Homelessness was Biblical." Protesters hope that by putting pressure on the City Council, there will be an increase in police presence, which is ultimately what residents think will help solve the crime problem in West Beach.
I believe this is an important issue in global crime. Despite some being petty crimes, still there are cities all over the world that suffer from an infestation of small town criminals. If cities just keep letting things such as public urination go unnoticed, before we know it those small misdemeanors could turn into big time felonies. No crime should go undeterred and I'm glad the people of West Beach are putting their foots down. More cities should do the same.
http://www.thedailysound.com/results/103110-ANGRY-SANTA-BARBARA-PROTESTERS-RALLY-ON-STATE-STREET.html
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