Foster on public safety

Bill Foster is up on YouTube with a new video talking about public safety. In the three-minute spot,  which is taped in front of a police cruiser with its lights on, Foster says he plans to install video cameras in parks, city facilities and other "hot spots." Take a look.

Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

Comments

[?]

What's with the shaking head?

[Ya Know?]

"... he plans to install video cameras in parks, city facilities and other "hot spots."

Rethink!

Electronic surveillance does not replace the presence of law enforcement personnel. A camera can’t stop a crime, but a policeman/woman can. I’m not interested in filming a crime; I’m interested in stopping it.

Parks – absolutely not! Put a damn cop there if it’s caller for.

City Facilities – ok

“Hot Spots” – you had better come up with a list pretty damn quick or this could backfire fast.

AND DON'T LEAN ON THE CAR, YOU SCHMUCK!

[I do know!]

Ya Know? Camera's are a diterance to crime. If you expect the City to have a cop at every single park 24/7, then you better be prepared to donate more in taxes. Cities throughout the United States are using camera's to deter crime and to prosecute criminals when crimes are caught on tape.

You sound like an angry old person that has no respect for the office of the Mayor - why call someone a "schumuck" for leaning on a police car?

You need to open your eyes and see beyond your own yard - or view from your condo.

While I haven't decided on voting for Bill Foster or another candidate, Bill has some very good ideas for protecting all of St. Petersburg, not just a limited few business owners and developers.

[Please Stop the Madness]

Bill Foster is exactly what is wrong with the right wing of this country. Surveillance cameras basically everywhere no thanks big brother. The "broken window" philosophy has been proven to be flat out wrong. This guy is an idiot with horrible judgment. If you love St.Pete please, please don't vote for this nut job, and if your considering it please do some research it should make you reconsider that scary notion of him being mayor of this great city.

[You're right... you don't know!]

"Camera's are a diterance to crime."

Good point... I can tell that is the case as I watch the videos of bank robberies, convenience store robberies, et al…

“If you expect the City to have a cop at every single park 24/7…”

I don’t; I expect them to stop crime, not film it. Here’s a thought! Why not clean the park of the criminals… ooooo, what a novel idea!

BTW, dope… I am voting for Bill Foster, but cameras are not the answer to crime… a properly funded and supported police force that’s allowed to do their job is.

[Lii]

Cameras in parks...No thank you.

[#]

drop 15 pounds bill--wouldnt kill ya

[Zen Master]

Ok I thought going after him for cooking burgers w/cops was dumb. Yet he has a cruiser with it's lights on in this vid? That may be a real violation.

[Podunk]

One word: Podunk

[Use of City Time]

I hope that there's another investigation of why candidate Bill Foster is standing next to an police cruiser while it has it's lights on. I also hope that Bill and the Police Department didn't stage this photo shoot while on the tax payers dime! If Bill walked up to a cruiser that already had it's lights on while, say directing the flow of traffic to Tropicana Field, well then that may not be an issue. If it was staged, then the hamburger flip must have been staged too. Bill, you're starting to sound a lot like Jamie Bennett...lies, lies, and more lies. By the way, that small sign on the Home Depot property at Tyrone Blvd, the management there said it wasn't authorized to be installed. And, I don't think the landlord Sembler authorized you or one of your volunteers putting up the sign.

[Uncle Ben]

Just another fear monger - the staple of the Republican Party.

[~]

Seems to be a lot of law enforcement vehicles sitting idol in a city riddled with crime… hmmmmm…

Good points, 12:33. So long as every other candidates receives the identical treatment and access, no problem…

… cue Congemi and his KFC Crime Unit!!

… and I thought “Podunk” is what you call it when it’s “Homeless Person Day” at the local city pool.

[.]

"fear monger"

Dude, that's pretty stale. Is that anything like homo monger?

[Safe St. Pete]

Why is this a bad thing. We want a mayor with a strong policy to keep us safe, that seems to be the message here. Mr. Foster was endorsed by the police association and I would think they have a better handle on fighting crime than the average citizen. I am glad to hear someone say they aren't going to put up with any crime big or small. If someone says they are going to crack down on crime, they get bashed, if they say they are going to be soft they get bashed. How can any of these candidates say what they feel if we beat them up for anything.

[H&D]

Zen, look at the light bar. This is not a St. Pete cruiser. You know the cop cars you see in the movies - they aren't real either. You need to get a life.

[~]

I thought a “light bar” was a saloon that only served low-cal beer!

[awhitewolf]

...bill foster on public safety...??????...I remember when he went to baywalk one weekend night and was amazed at the sight of gang warfare, crack trade wars, and random fighting...foster validates a point: elitests simply cannot see beyond their own castles...

[Glass houses really suck, huh]

Ummmm, awhitewolf… the only people who wouldn’t be amazed at the sight of gang warfare, crack trade wars, and random fighting at MelWalked… would be the gangs, crackheads, and fighters themselves. Stow the obvious bias, and save the elitism for people who call themselves “awhitewolf”.

[Someone in FL]

BILL FOSTER FOR MAYOR

[Foster and Crime]

Foster seems extremely sincere about correcting areas of the city that are not safe in this day in age. He has the knowledge, resources and desire to make this happen. P.S. LOL I think it is great that he hired someone to produce a video with a simulated police car! Smart thinking and not using tax payer resouces like some of the other candidates.

[Foster Rocks!]

I thought a tree-mounted; surveillance camera in a local city park WAS a “simulated police car”?

Taaadump-tisssshhhh!... Thank you everyone, I’ll be here ‘til Thursday, try the veal and don’t forget to tip your waitress!

[Bob]

It was Christmas Night, when someone offered Bill Foster a hit off their joint. I guess Foster and Family do not like smoking pot? Then the gun fire took place. Why didn't Foster want cameras at BAY WALK? They had 14 police cars there every weekend, at the tax payers expense. Foster was still on the city council. It seems Foster was part of the problem, not part of the solution.

[Bill Foster]

Bring in the Pinellas County Sheriff and lets stop the BS. Foster just loves to hear his own voice. Foster wasted a lot of our tax money on the SPPD, and we get nothing. Since the SPPD do not drive out when you call them, take the police cars away.

[awhitewolf]

...ya know, foster should consider losing thirty pounds or more. he is starting to look a bit like john bryan...

[Since 1962]

No intelligent traffic signalization for St Pete but do promote impotent taxpayer funded spying! Perhaps elusive yeti will be sighted alongside your "intelligent" design dinosaurs Billy.
Use those mail ballots intelligently.
Kathleen Ford for Mayor