Home Antioch Thorpe: Where’s the Money for Public Safety in Antioch?

Thorpe: Where’s the Money for Public Safety in Antioch?

by ECT

We all want an Antioch that is safe for everyone but especially for our most vulnerable populations — our children and seniors.  In my previous letter to the editor “City’s Plan for Lumber Yard Just More Settling for Less”, I talked about why I opposed 31 new townhomes in downtown and am open to something like Concord’s Todos Santos Plaza. Why? Because it’s not rocket science—quality economic activity downtown increases public safety, while more housing strains city resources.

As a dad, I want the best for my daughter, which is why I voted for two public safety initiatives, Measure C in 2013 and Measure O in 2014.

I’ll be honest, I don’t normally support regressive taxes like Measure C. I made this exception because I wanted the mayor and city council to be successful in dealing with public safety matters. So, like you, I trusted them.

That same year, I joined a group of citizens who were pushing a residential landlord rental fee (known as Measure O). Measure O made sense to me, because after Measure C sunsets, the City needs a plan to maintain critical services like police. The answer was Measure O, which imposed an annual fee on residential landlords to support city services.

On two occasions, we’ve given the mayor and city council the opportunity to put Antioch on the right track in terms of public safety. Unfortunately, they have not taken heed to our calls, which has made many of us very, very frustrated. We’re frustrated because we hear the screeching tires and gunshots; we see the deaths caused by excessive speeding; we see illegal dumping, homeless encampments, drug use and drug dealing at our local parks; we watch properties with 9 or 10 cars outside and blight bring down the value of our homes; and we hear about our neighbors having their homes broken into or being assaulted at local store parking lots.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: We may not agree on every issue and you may not personally like me, but in order to put Antioch on the road from good to great, it’s going to take effective leadership that listens.

Here’s my plan for public safety:

Remove Measure C roadblocks. We were promised at least 111 total sworn police officers, not 102, the city’s current target. In 2013, when the ballot measure was developed, we had 89 sworn officers. Voters were promised 22 additional officers. We owe them that many, regardless of how many officers have retired or left the department. The city also needs to immediately stop using Measure C money to calculate any percentage towards the City’s Cost Allocation Plan. The money was never intended for baseline police funding.

Collect all Measure O fees immediately. Currently, the city collects less than 50% of landlord fees owed under Measure O. City Hall needs to be held accountable for coming up with a plan that collects 100% of the fees, so no one is tempted to loot Measure C funds for the City’s Cost Allocation Plan. The original language for the measure required a set-aside to immediately hire staff and being collecting the fee. City Hall needs to quickly build the infrastructure to get it done.

Empower the community. We ask a lot of law enforcement, which is why we need to help them do their jobs. The city must continue to support neighborhood watch programs. However, I propose taking things a step further.

Individuals who don’t even belong in our neighborhoods are committing some of the crime in Antioch. We need to make it uncomfortable for them by giving citizens the opportunity to petition City Hall for parking permits and limited parking hours in their own neighborhoods, especially on streets impacted by gangs and violence. If the community knows that there is a drug house in their neighborhood, they can choose to make it difficult for the dealers to operate and make it easier for police to catch them.

We all want to make a good city great. When it comes to public safety, the problem is we’re paying for “great” – yet we keep being told to settle for “good.”

Our elected leaders were given two solid tools to improve public safety in Measure C and Measure O. If elected to city council, I will fight to ensure these tools are leveraged to their fullest effect, and no less. If our current city leaders are unable to deliver what voters were promised, let them step aside for those who will.

By Lamar Thorpe

Lamar Thorpe is a candidate running for Antioch City Council. To find out more about Lamar Thorpe at www.lamarthorpe.com or on Facebook.

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16 comments

Simonpure Aug 24, 2016 - 7:58 am

What about crime…HELLO!

RJB../ Aug 24, 2016 - 8:46 am

How is this any different from what the other candidates want to do? Where is the specificity, other than parking permits?

Remove measure C roadblocks: sounds good, but specifically, how do you propose to get that done? You can’t change the language to a law that has already been passed.

Collect measure O fees immediately: How do you propose to get that done that is cost effective and successful?

Empower the community: How can we enforce parking permits when code enforcement is a joke and police are busy with high priority murders, shootings, and rapes?

Nothing but a lot of hot air from someone who desperately wants to be seated in a position of power. How about you come clean and put out an article about yourself and your criminal past? You have a proven history of criminal behavior, that is a fact.

People with your criminal past should NOT serve as council.

Phule Me Twice Aug 24, 2016 - 10:58 am

Mr. Brown,

Your repeated claims about Mr. Thorpe’s “criminal past” make me want to ask you the age-old, “damned if you do/damned if you don’t” question: Have you stopped beating your wife?

Either provide specifics about this “criminal past”, or quit beating the dead horse.

I don’t live in Antioch and have no stake in the outcome. If I were to question Mr. Thorpe about anything, it would be about why he went to all that effort for the 19th Hole?

RJB Aug 24, 2016 - 4:25 pm

Maybe you should ask I him yourself?

ECT - Mike Burkholder Aug 24, 2016 - 4:46 pm

@RJB:

As the editor of East County Today, I have to clarify that Lamar Thorpe does not have a criminal history including investigations, reports, proceedings, charges, etc. Please keep in mind that these types of published comments are defamation of character, hurts a person’s reputation and can result in lawsuits.

While other publications may have printed about his past, it does not necessarily mean they are true because if he did have a criminal past, there would be a record of it.

RJB Aug 24, 2016 - 6:01 pm

This is what I read. I guess it’s up to the readers to decide.

http://antiochherald.com/2014/10/p13621/

Furthermore, I think we should focus on my questions about how Lamar plans to achieve his goals.

This is a perfect opportunity for him to prove how effective his leadership will be.

Nick Aug 24, 2016 - 9:51 pm

I’m with RJB on this one. It is up to the readers to decide, and I call a spade a spade.

Public safety? After what I just read… thanks for the link.

Been there, done that Aug 25, 2016 - 12:25 am

RJB, there is an old but true saying, “Don’t believe what you read in the papers”. As somewhat of a public figure, I can tell you firsthand, it is true. 80 percent of what I read in local “advertisers” disguised as “newspapers” is FALSE. I would question any thing that is printed in the pages of the Antioch Herald, The Press Newspaper and even the Times. I know all of the publishers & editors and wouldn’t trust a single one of them to watch my dog.

Do your own research, ask your own questions, it really isn’t that difficult. If you can put your biases aside then your comments will be worth something. Until that occurs, readers must question your motives, your biases and the fact that you aren’t willing to stand up and make a difference.

The fact that Lamar is stepping up makes him a worthy candidate. I ask, what have you done for your community lately? And for the record, Pissing and Moaning doesn’t count.

Maybe it’s time to step up or step off. Your choice.

Where did Antioch go wrong??????? Aug 25, 2016 - 5:18 pm

Just curious as to how an editor of a news blog can clarify that Thorpe does not have a criminal history, to include investigation, reports, proceedings, charges,etc… Do you have the availability to run criminal history on people? What evidence or investigation have you done to qualify you to clarify it. If there is information you have please share it. It may help shed light on this accusation and help Mr. Thorpe out. Thanks

Harold Calahan Aug 25, 2016 - 5:47 pm

RJB & WdAgw

Wait, What??? You are really overthinking this. Here is a guy that is offering to throw his hat in the ring to help Antioch get out of the ditch. Yet all you do is try to dig faster. You are no worse than the current council that has screwed this town. Maybe you should be more focused on the message, instead of the messenger. That’s right, keep busting everyone’s chops and you will get the leaders you deserve. You may have them now…. Who would want to work for a bunch of a holes that want everything but do nothing but complain.

Oh and here is a few extra ?????? for the antioch went wrong dude. You seemed to have a lot of unanswered questions.

Where did Antioch go wrong??????? Aug 25, 2016 - 11:44 pm

Harold calahan@
Are you serious? If some criminal asshole is running for a city council position then citizens should know his background. I would seriously question the qualifications of anybody that had these types of allegations that were reported in the Harold. This is why I asked ETC how he knew Mr. Thorpe has no criminal history , investestigations ect…. If there is evidence otherwise then Please educate people. If you think that we should all believe somebody who says”I’m the editor and have to clarify” then you are a jackass. Statements like that deserve citations as to where people can gain the information, so they can judge for themselves. I would end this with saying that I am not a Thorpe hater and have no idea about Mr. Thorpe’s criminal history. I am not advocating that anything said against him is true. If you have information to prove otherwise then please let the people with “unanswered questions” know. This may help Mr. Thorpe in the long run.

RJB.../ Aug 25, 2016 - 11:48 pm

You want me to feel bad about overthinking this? Sorry but I won’t dumb myself down in order to blindly vote for this guy. Maybe that’s what’s wrong with Antioch voters? Take a look at our mayor and his failures because of dumbass voters. Anyone remember Belle that lied about his qualifications? Now he’s part of AUSD.

There are plenty of other great candidates for council. Many of them have done way more than Thorpe, in my opinion. Furthermore, they don’t have a severe history like Thorpe’s.

@ been there done that, yup I didn’t believe the part in the article about his innocence. In regards to trust, I’m supposed to trust your opinion and someone with a background as Lamar? P l e a s e…. Cry me a river.

Both of you are the reasons why Antioch has such poor leadership and a future of poor quality of life.

I think I’ll keep my opinions based on what I’ve read and make my own decisions.

Julio Aug 24, 2016 - 8:56 am

Currently the council’s opinion is to renew Measure C when it expires or “sunsets”. This is not an option folks. The city manager and council have put us on notice this is the plan. (With the exception of Lori Orgorcholk.) Do Not go for it. The city finance director has said publicly this city is bankrupt in 2 years. This is due to nothing but mismanagement. Do not give them more money because they cannot control themselves as it is.

Why are the city workers all running around in new equipment? New cars and trucks are not critical. Police services are.

Highwayman Aug 24, 2016 - 4:48 pm

I paid my Measure O extortion tax and am a proud recipient of a City of Antioch business license. It’s one thing to pay property tax on a rental property but to have to write a yearly check for $250 to satisfy Measure O requirements is obviously a ripoff. I have a good tenant, the house is well kept and we don’t use any additional city services, but this tax scapegoats me a bad actor. Where is this money going? The city is clearly mismanaged. The police are doing a great job making good arrests but the city is a magnet for every criminal, con, drug addict etc. If and when my tenant loves on, so will I.

Tim Aug 24, 2016 - 8:24 pm

To comment on something Thorpe is also commenting on, the city cannot afford a Todos Santos style Park at the lumberyard. The ” if we build it they will come” attitude is a recipe for disaster. We do not have a need for another Park and can’t afford the ones we have. I also don’t agree with town homes in that area. Turn it over to a private investor and let him make it a place of revenue. Government only messes things up. A private business man is the only way to bring success. Search Swabbies on the river in Sacramento and you will see what a great business can do in a spot like that. Let me know if you want me to get started.

Where did Antioch go wrong??????? Aug 27, 2016 - 1:17 pm

I’m seeing no answer to my question about how ECT can say that Thorpe has no criminal history. Like I said before, if you have information that is supported by facts about Thorpe, then please let people know. Or just tell people that this is your opinion.

Psssst Aug 27, 2016 - 4:04 pm

@ Where did Antioch go wrong-

Psssst, hey buddy, you are being ignored. (That’s what happens when you are an Internet dumbass.)

Do your own 4kin homework next time.

Comments are closed.