Faust: Dover, A city in major crisis

Our once quiet city is now a city in crisis. Every time you turn on the TV or read the newspaper you see the tragedy that has fallen upon our once quite city.

These are issues that are throwing our city into crisis:

• The increase in shootings that are resulting in serious injuries or death. How many families need to be torn apart until positive action is taken, to stop the madness?
• Increase in the homeless situation. Some time back the Chief reported that the City of Dover has over 40 plus homeless encampments throughout the city.
• A prostitution situation which is not under control in downtown Dover.
• The drug dealings that are occurring throughout the city limits.
• A revenue issue that has not been corrected has led to tax increases, utility hikes, trash fee hikes, an EMS fee and now a possible 10% increase in electric rates and a possible increase in water and wastewater treatment. * Not to mention the mayor and council look at the possibility of paying for paid fire fighters.

With all the issues that I have outlined, how can the mayor or council promote individuals to open business withing the city limits or even move into our city. The mayor and council can find; it is easier to pass the cost onto the citizens to keep the city afloat. However, no financial burden passed onto the taxpayer is going to fix the crisis that is now facing the city.

The mayor and council need to fix our city without passing the burden onto the citizens. The downtown project is doomed to fail if the citizens & visitors touring/visiting our city do not feel safe.

Is it time to raise the white flag to surrender or is it time to take action to take back our city? It is time to circle the wagons and prepare to take our city back from the criminal element and from our revenue crisis. It is time to sound the alarm for common sense to be brought back to our city government.

William G. Faust, Jr.

Dover