I just recently read a detailed news article that stated that Dover City Councilman David Anderson pulled the ordinance he is sponsoring for safety in the medians from the Jan. 12 meeting.
What concerns me and raises red flags is that the ordinance was pulled for possible revision, with the help of an expert. These are the questions that need to be answered:
It is important to note that neither Councilman Anderson nor Council President Fred Neil have produced any statistics about collisions, deaths or the police hours used to address this so-called safety issue. It is important to note that this issue was never brought up by the mayor or any council member prior to Councilman Anderson’s ordinance being introduced. I feel that Councilman Anderson only introduced this ordinance to make a name for himself because he wants to run for mayor in the next election.
To address the statement of Council President Neil that a knife was pulled out recently when two individuals were fighting over a panhandling spot: This seems to me to be a big stretch to pass an ordinance.
Let’s keep it real: The city of Dover has seen an increase in criminal activities. Every time you turn around, the news is reporting more about gun violence and robberies of private citizens and small businesses throughout Dover.
Something to think about is, was this ordinance only submitted to get homeless residents out of sight? As it is now, you see homeless individuals panhandling on practically every street in Dover. Trying to remove the homeless population from sight with a Band-Aid ordinance will not solve the issue at hand.
I believe citizens deserve better from their elected officials.
William G. Faust Jr.
Dover
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
