votewojcik.org

More to come, but I am trying to get info out for tonight’s news cycle.  Here you can see the sign removed and items formerly in the windows missing.

Here are some updates.

1) Dennis Weestrand is still willing to profit from a business dealing in Human Sex Trafficking in Rochester.  Here are my official city council meeting comments.

2) Our bus contract will be put out for competitive bidding.  This is long overdue.  At the council meeting there was an attempt to pander and say that the big bad federal government is making us do this.  However after the pandering died down I specifically said that we should have competition for our contracts and if anyone on the council disagrees, please say so now.  No one spoke, so I read that 7-0 that the city council support competitive bidding.  This is not to say anything about our current operator, who I think does a very nice job.  I am championing a change rates where we will pay an hourly rate instead of the current death-by-excel back and forth that kills so much staff time.

Here are our recommendations to address issues at Beer Bellyz.  Let me know if you have any comments or suggestions. Read the rest of this entry »

In part 1 of this analysis I present some cold hard facts.  Let there be no doubt that overall we are a safer city than we were 30 years ago.  However behind the positive overall results there are some less encouraging undercurrents.  In this post I will address some facts, observations, and myths that can be hidden in overall data.

Here are “Other” thoughts: Read the rest of this entry »

Here is a link to the postbulletin.com article on CAPS and Kutzky Park’s own Susan Todzy.

“I think what we’re really trying to capture is neighbor-to-neighbor (communication),” said Susan Todzy, who heads the 16-member Citizens Advisors for Public Safety (CAPS) group.

Good job community organizers and activists!

In anticipation of the upcoming MPR forum on crime and perceptions, I requested some crime statistics from Rochester Police Chief Roger Peterson. He was kind enough to send me some crime data and analysis.  In crime, there is perception and reality.  Both are important in our community.  The reality is that we are a safer city today than we were 35 years ago, though it may not feel that way. Read the rest of this entry »

I am required to provide another update as there was an early morning change that the city council made that I feel is soft on crime and puts public safety at greater risk.  I was caught completely unaware of this when Ed Hruska brought it up at the end of a five and a half hour meeting. Read the rest of this entry »

Many people already know that city trees are highly desirable to make a neighborhood more attractive. It is common knowledge that shade from trees keeps temperatures on the ground cooler, can help buildings lower their overall energy usage, and their roots absorb storm water runoff efficiently. What people may not be familiar with is that trees also aid in fighting crime. Yes, trees can lower crime rates. Read the rest of this entry »

As I have stated time and time again:

• Most of our landlords are responsible and law abiding, some are not.
• The city council has never shut down a good landlord.
• Public safety is the number one priority. Read the rest of this entry »

I went up to vote absentee today, as I will likely be out of my precinct on election day.  Near the voting area there was an absolutely heartbreaking display about domestic violence in Minnesota.  There is a photo or rendering of 2009 victims of domestic abuse that lost their life.  The display included a number of infants and children.  It was not lost on me that I was viewing this on the 8th anniversary of the death of Paul & Sheila Wellstone.  These 2 were among the foremost in advocating for victims.  I have no policy or point to make, I just think that if you have the chance you should to to the government center and see the display.