A Vision for Boston:
Questions for the 2009 Mayoral Candidates

Day 10: Public Safety

Is Boston safer than it was four years ago? How will you maintain neighborhood policing in Boston in a tight fiscal environment?

Response from Mayor Menino:

Boston is safer than it was four years ago. In 2008, our city experienced the fewest crimes in 40 years; and, in 2009, for the third consecutive year, violent crime and property crime are decreasing.

Community policing is at the heart of our public safety strategy. It is focused on people and powered by partnerships. More Boston police officers walk beats, building stronger relationships with the community. Our officers work with our over 600 crime watches, the faith community and organizations like the Boston Foundation to prevent and solve crime.

We pair our commitment to people with the deployment of new technology. Shotspotter helps police respond faster to shootings. BPD updates residents 24/7 through blogs and Twitter. Our first-in-the-nation text message program allows residents to send anonymous tips to police.

However, one act of violence is one too many. That’s why we will increase the number of Safe Street Teams, continue our door-to-door outreach to connect youth to summer jobs, and reform CORI, so one mistake isn’t a life sentence for a young person.

With Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which I founded with Mayor Bloomberg, I will keep pressing for smarter federal laws that take more guns off our streets.