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sou BEND mot v thle&1L� FEBRUARY 2011 Letter from the Mayor THIS MONTH... Mayor's Letter City Events Total crime reaches record low for second year SB Parks Summer Camp Tree Sale Free Tax Assistance Winter Safety Tips Dear Friends and Neighbors, St. Patrick's Day Parade When thieves stole a tandem bicycle from my garage last summer,the experience was particularly frustrating.More than what physically was City Events. stolen,the vandals took something else from us.Each crime erodes our sense of community and quality of life. This is something to which friends and neighbors who've experienced the violation of a criminal act can attest.It is why we work so hard to reduce crime in our community. I share my story to underscore new statistics I've just received for 2010 rsxFOxMxi G warns iv rf-a from the South Bend Police Department. They show that—for the second March 1 Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith consecutive year—incidents of major crime in South Bend at their lowest 2 Friends Tour 7:30p levels in at least 40 years.Reported crime declined 3 percent when March 5 James Taylor in concert 8:00p compared with 2009. In five categories—total major crimes,murders, March 10 Barney's Birthday Bash non-residential burglaries,larcenies and motor vehicle thefts—reported 3p and 6:30p incidents reached record lows.In addition,the number of rapes fell 23 March 12 Larry The Cable Guy percent to reach the lowest level during my time in office. 2 performances March 18-19 Broadway Theatre League Despite these highly encouraging numbers,one crime category remains a Presents "The Color Purple" significant challenge. There was an 11 percent increase in residential Fri. at 8p, Sat. at 2p and 8p burglaries last year.Although the number of burglaries is still lower than March 20 Willie Nelson in Concert,7:30p when I took office,they remain a critical concern for my administration. March 24-25 South Bend Symphony With additional resources from the public safety tax and the federal Youth concerts stimulus,Police Chief Darryl Boykins created a street crimes unit,which March 26 South Bend Symphony Pops, 8p allows him to put more officers on the street in areas of need. These April 2nd R&B comedy Explosion featuring tactics and good,old-fashioned police work have helped our officers to The Whispers, 8p identify and arrest more burglars,including clearing four separate April 8`" Styx,Blue Oyster Cult and Mark burglary rings operating in the city. Famer,(formerly of I am proud of the fact that South Bend is a safer community today than Grand Funk Railroad, 8p when I took office and the safest it has been in a generation.Although April 9th South Bend Symphony this great news is tempered by a rise in residential burglaries, South Bend Masterworks, 8p April 15 Celtic Woman, 8p benefits from a vigilant citizenry and a highly professional police force. April 17`" Bill Maher,7:30p Still, as long as I am mayor, any resident's experience of victimization by April 29-30 Broadway Theatre League crime will be one too many.With public safety as the City's No. 1 "Legally Blond,the Musical" commitment, South Bend Police will remain focused on keeping our Fri. at 8p, Sat. at 2p and 8p community safe.With your help in talking to your neighbors and Downtown South Send reporting suspicious activity,we can continue to build upon this positive trend. March 4: First Fridays. www.DtsbFirstFridays.com Sincerely, March 11: St.Paddy's Tent Party& Pub "'-- Tour Enjoy live Rock n' Roll under the tent and take part in the popular Mayor Steve Pub Tour featuring unique downtown restaurants, Visit Our Website at www.SouthBendlXgov! bars and clubs. Continued on backside