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miff?, MARCH 2009 ' BEND &r MAYOR STEPI Y I, if'UaECk Letter from the Mayor Dear Friends and Neighbors, The slumping economy affects us in many ways. One impact is a rise in crime rates. We are deeply committed to keeping South Bend safe. More than 75 percent of our General Fund budget supports public safety, clearly our No. 1 budget prior- ity. To put this in perspective, the city pends a higher percentage of its eg neral fund budget on public safety than a typical family spends on housing and utilities, food, transportation, healthcare and entertainment combined. Last year total reported major crimes increased 1 percent over 2007. While the long -term trend remains positive (down 28 percent since 1996), there are areas that cause concern. After a 23 -year low in the murder rate in 2007, the number doubled to 15 in 2008, just shy of the long -term average. Murders are highly visi- ble. They create fear, especially when a string occurs in close succession. This fear exists even when it is clear that these are not random acts of violence: the vast majority of victims knew their assailant. Our local solve rate for murders is much higher than the national average. We will identify, arrest and prosecute these criminals. Although robberies, larcenies and arsons were down, I remain concerned about the rise in residential burglaries. Police officers have done an exceptional job captur- ing suspects, but this spree has expanded beyond career burglars. Particularly disturbing is the number of juveniles involved. Police Chief Darryl Boykins is implementing a number of strategies that will help to reverse this trend, but we will need help from neighbors to keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it to the police. Since I took office in 1997 crime has dropped in every category. There have been spikes in some areas the last two years but we are committed to extending that downward trend line (see illustration). It will take all of us, working together, to keep our community safe. Neighborhood Watch and CrimeStoppers are two great ways for you to be involved. Sincerely, 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 Annual Crime Statistics 10941 9176 925 8557 8278 7784 7859 394 —Total Crime — Linear(Total Crime) THIS MONTH... Mayor's Letter CARE Run Ten -Ten l Ok and Mutt Strut Downspout Disconnect Clean Out Your Files Day Adopt A Block - Near Northwest Neighborhood Earth and Arbor Day Festival Curbside Recycling & Shredding CARE Run Ten Ten : 10k Race and Mutt Strut • Put on your running shoes or grab a leash and • collar! Community Animal Rescue Effort • (CARE) of South Bend will be holding its first • • annual Run Ten -Ten 10K race and 2 mile Mutt • Strut on April 25th, 2008 at Howard Park. Over 150 athletes ; • are expected to 0,14%. I� ".k • • participate in this V • USA Track and M•-` an • • Field (USATF) • sanctioned event p • • which will take place 9 • along the St. Joseph • River and continue through some of South • • Bend's lovely historic neighborhoods. • Proceeds from the race will support the ; construction of a new animal shelter for the • City of South Bend. • • To register for the race or mutt strut or for • more information, please visit • www.runtenten.org. Early registration (prior to • • April 1) will enroll participants in a raffle for • cash prizes. First Place winner $300, Second • Place $200, and Third Place $100. To • volunteer, contact Valerie Schey at 210 -9623 • • or email info @careofsouthbend.org. To learn • more about CARE of South Bend, please visit ; www.careofsouthbend.org. • Sponsored by Christopher B. Burke • Engineering, Ltd. ; • v • rr AA � II❑❑ r(r(!! II[[C IIII pp� 44 • • LFiR_h v f'�ll�P�tll' fieS 9W 4 .mum ber,4 • SI USTED NO ENTIENDE INGLES YNECESITA AYUDA PARA TRADUCIR ESTE DOCUMENTO, O SI TIENE ALGUNA PREGUNTA, POR FAVOR LLAME AL TELEFONO (574- 235 -5858 X 1000.