Vandalism at City Pier

The City really needs to crack down on vandalism. Vandalism and graffiti are always wrong, but defacing the Ennis Creek mural on City Pier was a new low. It always seemed to me that the City’s murals and other artwork were immune from vandalism, but apparently not. (I know the Kalakala mural on Laurel Street was also graffiti’d not too long ago.)

If the perps can't be found on the surveillance tapes at City Pier and the adjacent parking lot, the city needs more and better surveillance equipment.

The best solution would be to hire more police officers, but that’s pretty unlikely. That seems to be a much lower priority than paralyzing Port Angeles with umpteen simultaneous construction projects.

Any ideas on how to reduce crime in Port Angeles?

Crime in Port Angeles: What To Do?

Next November we’ll probably be voting on a measure to increase the local sales tax. The increase would be one tenth, two tenths or three tenths of one percent. The tax increase would be used for funding more sheriff’s deputies, assistant prosecutors, public defenders and a new Superior Court judge.

It’s clear that we need more law enforcement personnel. Vandalism seems to be everywhere, and serious crimes — last Friday’s attempted mugging (in the middle of the day) was the most recent — are getting more brazen. One judge said his caseload has almost doubled since 2001.

What do YOU think we should do about rising crime in the Port Angeles area? Do we need more police officers on patrol? More surveillance cameras in public places? Will viligantism start becoming more common and more acceptable? Do you think raising the sales tax is the way to increase law enforcement and reduce crime?

What's your perception of crime in the Port Angeles area? Do you feel safe when you're out shopping, doing errands, strolling around? If not, what's your solution?