Challengers say crime top issue in District 7

• By STEVEN WARD
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Sep 11, 2008 - Page: 1B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.
• Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series of stories about the candidates for the 12 Metro Council seats in the Oct. 4 primary. Due to coverage of Hurricane Gustav, the Metro Council stories are not being published in chronological order. The interviews were conducted before the hurricane hit Louisiana.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

The six challengers in the District 7 Metro Council race running against incumbent Councilman Byron Sharper said crime is a big issue that needs to be addressed by the city-parish.

Sharper said although crime is an issue, it’s not as bad as people think.

“Crime has gone down in District 7. It’s much better than it was eight years ago,” he said.

The other candidates, Paul Brumfield, Andrew Danna, Kim Dunn, Suchitra S. Dyer, C. Denise Marcelle and Isaiah Marshall, all said community policing is a tool to fight crime in the area.

The six challengers said Baton Rouge police need to increase patrols in District 7 and not just go to the area after a crime has occurred.

Danna said he wants to find a strong neighborhood civic association with a crime watch program, study it and try to come up with a blueprint to implement that kind of association in District 7.

Dyer said District 7 needs a satellite police station in the area.

Brumfield and Marcelle said there has to be better communication between police officers and residents.

“The police need to get to know the people in the neighborhoods,” Brumfield said.

Marshall said the key to fighting crime is getting children to graduate from high school or to help them obtain their GEDs.

District 7 is generally bounded by Weller Avenue and Clayton to the north; Perkins Road, Bawell Street and College Drive to the south; Plank Road, Scenic Highway, South Acadian Thruway and St. Rose Avenue to the west; and North Foster Drive, North Ardenwood Drive and Airline Highway to the east.

Traffic, economy
All seven candidates said planned synchronization of traffic lights will assist residents with traffic problems in District 7.

Dyer said the neighborhood could use more speed bumps and four way stops to reduce speeding.