In 2009, as America was at an extremely low point facing a major financial crisis, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company commissioned a survey on quality of life issues.
The results were encouraging as Americans indicated they valued quality of life issues more than their money, their careers and material possessions.
Greg Oberland, Northwestern Mutual’s chief insurance officer said, “What we’re seeing is a shift in focus. Thinking back, the ’90s was a time of consumption and credit, whereas today people are placing the most value on immaterial things that positively impact their personal and family life. In contrast, material things, such as ‘having nice belongings’ and ‘owning the home of your dreams,’ rank low among their measures of success.”
Despite the economic uncertainty we continue to live in today, public safety and quality of life issues are becoming more and more valued, particularly in Derby.
As I knock on the doors of the voters of Derby, public safety and quality of life concerns seem to be the major focus day after day. With the highest crime rate in the Valley, public safety in Derby is obviously a valid concern.
As the Mayor of Derby, I intend to work diligently to alleviate any such concerns.
I would propose to reinstitute the foot patrol of police officers in high crime areas, particularly in the downtown area when local bars are closing. My proposal would require police officers to stop, walk and talk to citizens for a certain time allotment during each shift.
A police presence in high crime areas will certainly deter any criminal activity.
My administration would also actively explore any and all avenues to secure grants to install cameras on public property to further prevent crime.
I will also encourage the growth and expansion of existing Neighborhood Crime Watches while also promoting the establishment of new ones.
I intend to meet monthly with the police department to discuss any concerns.
I will also actively enforce existing ordinances to hold landlords and business owners financially responsible for police officers being called to their rentals or establishments for reoccurring problems.
Financial penalties imposed on landlords and business owners will force them to assume accountability, and thus, ultimately reduce crime in our city.
My administration will also take the necessary action to have bathrooms installed at the Witek Park soccer fields. Instances of children being left with no alternative other than to use the surrounding woods to relieve themselves is simply unacceptable.
I was born and raised in this great city. I worked here and chose to raise my family in Derby.
Now that I am retired, I’m still proud to call Derby my home. I have a genuine interest in turning the City of Derby around so it is once again the envy of the Valley.
The writer is running as a Democrat for Derby mayor.
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Lets talk about the bathrooms at Witek Park, as this is the second time I heard about this issue. Back during the approval process for these soccer fields, there was plenty of discussions about the installation of bathrooms, concession stands, bleachers, storage sheds,etc. There was alot of controversy surrounding this project, and part of the approval was that there would be no permanent structures (not even bleachers) installed inside Witek Park. These restrictions still stand today, as well as they should, as they were promised by City officials to the people of Derby in order to install the fields. Not only is a bathroom building not allowed but imagine the cost of running a water/sewer line from the nearest roadway to inside the park, as there currently is no potable water or sanitary sewer inside Witek. The most logical solution is that any agency using the facility should be responsible for their own porta potty facilities during their season, which is a much more financially feasible proposition. This simple solution doesn’t negate the true intention of the boards when they approved these soccer fields and subsequently made a promise to the residents of Derby.
I did a quick search,(really quick), and found a statement from Mr Fred Columbo, the Inland/Wetlands Agency chairman. This statement came during a Parks and Rec meeting about the same topic back in 2010:
“Mr.Columbo noted that it was stipulated during the application process that no permanent structures would be allowed.”
The Derby, highest crime rate in the valley allegation — has already been disproven. Why rehash this failed campaign isseue “under a quality of life banner?”
The public works dept has plenty of employees and machinery to lay pipe. It’s not that hard. So how is that so expensive?
Let me get this straight — you never went to any alderman meetings or any meetings with the mayor or police chief, to voice your concerns — and you are now saying that not only our mayor, but our police and our blight officers are not doing their jobs properly?
You really believe that there is no police presence in high crime areas? The force is a lot larger than when my late ex-husband was on it but the city is the same size. So where do you think those extra police are? Not to mention that there had ALWAYS been a police presence in high crime areas. I see more police patrolling Derby than I have ever seen.
Neighborhood crime watches will NOT solve the problems, but they are a good idea. And they’d work much better if the neighborhoods call the police — like they should be doing anyway — rather than calling the leaders or organizers of the crime watch, when they see problems. You see all those crime watch signs around town? Those were put there by a previous crime watch, that ultimately ended because of disinterest from the public. And then there were other’s after that. Were active in any of them?
Mr Hughes, they do have these porta-potties that come on wheels and they are self cleaning. They are used at major sporting events….etc.
http://www.yourhomediy.com/yard-and-garden/portable-toilets.aspx
Hi Steven, I re-read the article again, and it is written in such a way to imply there is no porta potty there. Right now there IS a portable toilet up at Witek. I think it was last year, we encountered a stretch of vandalism to the porta potty. It was rolled down the hill, tipped over (daily), and even burned…..yes burned. Each and every time this cost the taxpayer money to right the ship, so we moved the portable toilet closer to the road in the hopes the vandalism would stop. It did, and the porta potty was moved back to the current location. The bottom line (and my point) is a structure cannot be built up at Witek. When someone states “My administration will also take the necessary action to have bathrooms installed at the Witek Park soccer fields” to me that means they will disregard the will and intent of the agencies when this project was approved. You cannot approve a project then change the stipulations after the project is built. That is illegal.
This is really a non issue. If the local badminton club is using Witek, and they want another portable toilet, they should rent a portable toilet. It really is that simple.
Ken Hughes: Thank you for your knowledgeable, and factural written contributions — which have cleared up some misconceptions. Keep up the good work — in keeping the readers correctly informed.
http://www.cityrating.com/crime-statistics/connecticut/derby.html
In 2009 the city violent crime rate in Derby was lower than the violent crime rate in Connecticut by 29.75% and the city property crime rate in Derby was higher than the property crime rate in Connecticut by 33.35%.
* The source of actual data on this Derby, Connecticut crime rate report is the FBI Report of Offenses Known to Law Enforcement for the corresponding year or years. Arson numbers are reported inconsistently. Zero values may indicate the data was not available. The projected crime rate data displayed above was generated from the trends and crime data available from previous years of actual reported data. In this case, the Derby crime report data for 2011 was projected from 9 years of actual data. The last year of actual available crime data, as reported above, was 2009.
The FBI cautions the data users against comparing yearly statistical data solely on the basis of their population coverage. The comparisons made herein are thus, only meaningful upon further examination of all variables that affect crime in each reported city, state or other reported jurisdicition.
Good research work, Mr. Jones! Once again — old data is being used as current fact. I really, really hope that Mr. Foley himself is not coming up with these statements. As an educator he knows that it’s important to get things straight and to not present things as fact when they’re not proven and can easily be disproved. But whoever does the ‘fact finding’ and writes these articles should do better research. And Mr. Foley should have everything checked out before allowing it to be published.
“The FBI cautions the data users against comparing yearly statistical data solely on the basis of their population coverage.” Do you have the other variables that the FBI suggests we use before making comparisons?
Thanks Rosalie, but if you read it carefully it says that violent crime is way down below natonal average. On the other hand City property crime was well above the National Average. So in essence it depends on where you pull your data. Mr Foley is correct in asserting that Derby has the highest crime rate in the valley, but it’s Property Crime. While I am happy to see Violent crime is down, property crime looks like a real problem. But the police can’t be everywhere all the time. I bet you can search the internet to get data to enhance any point of view. But if the FBI says Derby is 33.5% above the national average, that is a real concern to you folks. I’m glad I live in O.K. now because this election looks like it will go down to the wire and someone will win by a vote or two.
Steve,
I wasn’t asking you that last part of my post. What an idiot I am! That was supposed to be directed to whoever is researching for the Democratic team. And as you copied it, the statistics are from 2009 — almost four years ago and the FBI cautions AGAINST using them without due diligence. It’s old data. We don’t have the new data in front of us. I was asking if Mr. Foley does have it.
And personally, since crime is up everywhere — and somewhere close by, I can’t remember if it’s New Haven or where, has something like the third highest crime rate in the country, ours could be much worse. And if it has to be up at all, I’d rather it be property than violence.
What everyone is failing to mention (but keep blaming the crime rate on the mayor and our great police force) is that Derby is on several easy escape routes. We have several entrances to route 8 and route 34. We are the perfect city for crime because of the highways. Criminals can do their thing and be gone in seconds. Shall we have the police check all the highway ramps — all the cars that are coming and going?
Um … I would like to apologize for my posts not sounding all that great. I am not good at putting my thoughts into writing. So please question me (nicely) as to what I’m trying to say, if you are not sure. Don’t just assume I’m ranting. I also know I tend to ramble. 🙂
Steven Jones: Your disclosed report will not necessarily make it a close mayoral election in Derby — but if you are a Dan Foley supporter — you may be grasping at straws.
Aggravated assault is an unlawful attack intended to cause bodily injury. It generally involves a weapon and an intent to cause serious injury or even death.
Stats from the FBI
Ansonia, population 18,743….Aggravated assaults= only 7
Derby, population, 12,542…..Aggravated assaults= 25
In almost every part of the FBI table, Derby who has 6,000, that’s 6,000 less people has a higher Violent crime rate.
Mr Muzyk and Rosalie. I am an innocent bystander I don’t lean either way and besides I don’t reside in the Valley anymore I just visit. Back in the 60’s neighbors looked out for neighbors in the valley. Is the United Cigar still open? or how about Valley Bowl?
Valley Bowl closed in the summer of 2010, unfortunately. http://valley.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/whats_up_with_valley_bowl/
Eugene, thank you, sorry to hear that. Midnight Duckpin Glow bowling was the rage at one time.
Dan Foley: Your election campaign lawn signs are honest: “Dan Foley — Leadership for a Change.”
Your last Derby leadership role appears to go back to 1967 — when you were the co-captain of the Derby High School Red Raider football team, and voted “athlete of the year.”
As a senior citizen myself, I’m glad that you have not lost your leadership ability, Mr. Foley.
Steve — your statistics are from 2009, no? The thing you posted first said that the FBI advises AGAINST using that data. Do you have current data and have you checked with the police department to get up to date information? A lot can happen in two years. We don’t have up to date figures, yet you keep posting the stuff from 2009 like it’s current. Against the advice of the FBI. 🙂