Island Matters (IM) surveyed its readers earlier this year and asked for suggestions to better serve the community. With a 3-person staff, IM got to work. One request from readers was for IM to cover more updates from local law enforcement. To start the conversation, IM emailed Police Chief Claudine O'Carroll and City Secretary Angelique "Nikki" Soto with survey context and comments from the readers to establish a plan to work together to offer solutions to concerned readers with a deadline of Jul. 13. Survey comments: -
Include significant local news such as murders, drownings, police/crime issues, etc.
- Tell me how much the City spent on extra law enforcement and city employee overtime for spring break.
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Pursuing the local police to ensure pedestrians are protected while entering crosswalks. Enforcement of state laws before someone is killed.
- More stories about happenings on SPI, i.e., police reports/events.
- More stories on local crime.
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Share SPI Police reports weekly. We hear sirens all weekend & would like to know if we need to take proactive steps to protect ourselves & property.
- Better traffic control.
- The Fire Marshal is responsible for setting capacity limits at buildings. How come it appears he or others do nothing to limit island capacity?
On Jul. 21, IM reported the City failed to respond.
IM reached out a second time on Aug. 11 and received a response on Aug. 17 from Soto asking for clarification and noted the readers' concerns were directed toward IM's reporter. "It seems that the concerns are more directed towards your position as a reporter with Island Matters providing this to the readers," wrote Soto. Included in the email were comments addressing readers' concerns below in red. Comments: - Include significant local news such as murders, drownings, police/crime issues, etc.
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The City provides this type of information to media outlets upon request. Similar to the fire incident at the CVB. Just email the PIO, and once the draft is completed, she will forward it to you.
- Tell me how much the City spent on extra law enforcement and city employee overtime for spring break.
- Pursuing the local police to ensure pedestrians are protected while entering crosswalks. Enforcement of state laws before someone is killed.
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The City is continuing to work with TXDOT to enhance and maintain the many crosswalks within the City. Each designated crosswalk includes signage, lights, and or signals to assist pedestrians when crossing.
- More stories about happenings on SPI. I.e., police reports/events.
- The City promotes Police events through press releases, city media platforms (i.e., website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), and flyers around the businesses.
- More stories on local crime.
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This is also provided to media outlets upon request.
- Share SPI Police reports weekly. We hear sirens all weekend & would like to know if we need to take proactive steps to protect ourselves & property.
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Our Community Resource Officer has been working with many businesses and organizations to better safeguard themselves and their property. Please have them reach out to schedule time with him. Please note that while some sirens may be accredited with law enforcement, many sirens heard are attributed to fire/EMS responding to health emergencies.
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Better traffic control.
- What areas are needing to be better, location, staffing, timeframe? The island sees more than 9 million vehicles each year, with only 3 roads that run north and south, during peak times traffic will always be an issue.
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The fire marshal is responsible for setting capacity limits at buildings. How come it appears he or others do nothing to limit island capacity?
- The state sets the occupancy limits on properties not the island as a whole.
Following up on Soto's comments, IM sent in its questions for information on Oct. 9 with a publication due date of Oct. 20 and received no response.
Soto did not respond to IM's initial request for an in-person interview. |
