Partial S-E Questionnaire Interview

1.      Are you satisfied with security measures in Ogden, including the planned-for blimp and the Ogden Good Landlord Program?

Satisfied with security measures in Ogden? It’s a City, not an office building.  Question should be about Public Safety, including Police and Fire Departments. Let’s begin there. 

Are the Police and Fire Departments sufficiently equipped and staffed for a city the size of Ogden? I think not. Police officers can only do their jobs to the extent they are afforded the right tools for doing the very best job for our citizens.
 
An observation blimp has been proposed as a tool for neighborhood surveillance; is this really as good as a real-live officer on the ground operating in real-time, able to respond immediately to something they witness? NO, the blimp would POSSIBLY record something happening, the operator at the station MAY see it on the monitor; then time is needed to report incident to dispatch who needs time to determine severity of incident and which officers are in the area and to call them to the scene. I think this is a no-brainer, but that is my opinion.  
 
Fire Department: definitely need to make sure they are well-equipped and well manned. I visited Station 3 in 2009 while running for an At Large Council Seat and they had an engine that leaked so much they had to top it off at least 3 times a day to be fully ready for a fire call. Late in 2010 they got a new Fire Engine.
 
Their living quarters are in sub-par condition (I think children would be removed from a home that was in similar condition), including mold in the walls and shared bathroom facilities, the kitchen very bad – like a low-rent ghetto style apartment.   

Certified Fire Fighters employed by Ogden City and the pay system they are subjected to should be totally looked into and revised; we are losing far too many excellent strong young talent to other cities because of the low-end pay system here in Ogden.

The Good Landlord Program will be addressed shortly.
 
TLJ