Mayoral candidate Scott Wagman's crime solution for St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG - Crime is up.

Here is the e-mail mayoral hopeful Scott Wagman sent to supporters Wednesday addressing his proposed solution: As reported in today's Times, "Crime still climbing in St. Petersburg. Reported crime rose 9 percent, according to St. Petersburg Police Department statistics, compared with the first six months of 2008." This serious community problem persists even though the city has reached the budgeted maximum number of police officers.

I believe we need more officers, and under my administration they will be visible in our communities.

The ratio of police to population in Tampa is 3 police officers for every 1,000 citizens. In St. Petersburg it's 2.14 officers per 1,000 citizens. St. Petersburg would need an additional 210 officers to reach the same ratio as Tampa. Although reaching the Tampa ratio is beyond the city's budget ability at this time, I do feel, over the next four years, we should have a goal of 100 additional police officers, increasing the ratio closer to 2.54 officers per 1,000 citizens (the national average) to better address the growing crime problems in St. Petersburg.

My goal, over the next four years, is to add 100 additional police officers on the streets of St. Petersburg. Fortunately, approximately 10 will be paid for with Federal Stimulus money. Here’s how we’ll pay for the rest:

Through performance audits we will find waste and reprioritize $1.5 million of current expenses each year and,

We will invest from ½ of 1% the first year to 3% the last year of the city’s $286 million reserve funds.

I believe the public is willing to invest a small percentage of the city’s reserve funds to make St. Petersburg neighborhoods safe and secure.

Crime is not just a public safety issue; it’s an economic development issue. High crime rates have a detrimental impact on all elements of a thriving, successful city, from tourism to job creation. The drive to end crime in St Petersburg will absolutely be the number 1, 2 and 3 priority of my administration when I am elected as the next Mayor of St Petersburg. Give me your comments.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

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Comments

[MB]

See, substance! No rhetoric. This is why I like this guy! The idea of anyone else is just Status Quo to me. Innovation, business sense, makes sense to me. Go Scott!

[Scott Wagman: still in 4th place.]

Scott Wagman is a leech.

No, Scott, No.

[MB]

You wouldn't know he was in 4th place with all the haters against him here. To me, that's the tell tale that he's got some serious player in him at the very least.

Anyway, it's easy to cast stones. Glad to see Wagman's above that.

Go Scott!

[DD]

"Although"... "I do feel"... "we should have" = plausible deniability

... blah, blah, blah... bloviate, blovoate, (insert 'we're all going to die' type threat here)... back-pedal a bit and hope nobody notices... agree with Kathleen Ford and hope nobody notices... blah, blah, blah... blovoate, blovoate, blovoate...

[J Peterman]

If he stopped naming city employees he might get rid off, Wagman might stop looking like a complete novice. Pretty sure the Times is going to endorse either Foster or Wagman, and that will probably be enough to shoot the chosen candidate into the primary...I guess they might also endorse Bennett, but I'm not sure that would even be enough to get him into the primary, given ticketgate...

[Pip]

Foster and Ford go through to the General. Wagman comes in third over Gibbons (who barely squeaks by Bennett, who barely gets by Helm).

Write it down

[Scott Wagman]

Dear Times,

Thanks for always posting every single bullsh*t email or print itme I send out or send to you.

Also, thanks for not posting any of the other candidates emails or print material.

Scott K. Wagadouche

[Bitter Party of 1 (or 4?)]

Your table is ready.

[saintpetersblog]

Wagman is a complete novice. My oh my it shows.

[Peter Schorsch]

I am no longer posting under saintpetersblog. Anyone who posts under Peter Schorsch will have their post removed. But thank you for the increased attention.

[Hmmmm]

So the City first announces 10 new officers via stimulus $$$, then Mr Wagman promises 100 new officers and now he is including those 10 in his promise. So I guess his "promise" should honestly be 90 new officers. How clever to include in his plan something that is already done. Like marking up the price of paint $5 and then offering a $6 discount.

[.True Blue.]

So I guess that Wagmans claim that the "city employees will be job 1" when he is Mayor no longer holds true. Signs of desperation. Grab anything that floats.

[How Funny]

I was going to post what "Hmmm" wrote. They are exactly right. So I won't repeat that.

But I will say that Scott said he would not use reserve funds to pay for existing contracts but now wants to use reserve funds to pay for future contracts. Is this guy out to lunch or what?

[Top 6]

Write it down boys and girls. The finish is:

Ford
Foster
Gibbons
Wagman
Bennett
Williams

[clarification]

The credit for the ten extra officers goes to Karl Nurse, who has took the lead on getting stimulus money for public safety improvements.

Doesn't mean we shouldn't go for 90 more, but give credit where it applies.

[MD works for WAGMAN.]

"MD" the person who wrote the 1st and 3rd posts is obviously a Wagman worker.

I love how they said : "all the haters against him here. To me, that's the tell tale that he's got some serious player"

No, it shows he isn't supported. I barely ever see a Wagman sign besides the huge ones. I mostly see Foster and Ford.

[someone who knows]

clarification - you have no idea where the credit really lies, and your post reveals you to be someone who is not the insider you think you are.

[Karl works for Karl]

clarification is right! Nurse made sure we got those 10 new cops so they could shoot the protesters at Melwalk’d. It true, Nurse just approved giving our land to his corporatist owners… just like his dad Rick Baker does… and… he spat and trampled on the Constitution while on his way to their luncheon… like evry good Democrat and defender of Liberty does!

Gotta love that Karl! Tried and true Democrat… well, at least until the god ‘ol boys who appointed the lackey say otherwise.

[clarity]

I'm not claiming to be an insider. Simple fact: Karl Nurse took the lead on applying for the stimulus money to pay for 10 more officers. And he got it.

If you have a correction to that, then say so plainly where you think the credit goes.

[clarity indeed!]

clarity is right too! Nurse made sure we got those 10 new cops so they could shoot the protesters at Melwalk’d.

But he also just approved giving our land to his corporatist owners… just like his dad Rick Baker does… and… he spat and trampled on the Constitution while on his way to their luncheon… like evry good Democrat and defender of Liberty does!

Gotta love that appointed lackey! Tried and true Democrat… well, at least until the god ‘ol boys direct his next move.

[someone who knows]

clarity - you can keep saying it, but that wont make it true. and nurse didn't "get" anything. simple fact - he had nothing to do with it.

[MB]

Geeze, all the opponents here go straight to the gutter. How do your candidates feel about that?

I do not work for Scott, but as of this weekend, I'll be canvasing for him.

I mean, look at his positions and experience. Why would you consider anyone else? Foster is so status quo and far right, it hurts to even think of him as being mayor. And Ford!? God help us all.

[Zen Master]

Yes Foster is downright scary. Why not elect Mullah Omar?

[that'll be $5 please!]

I do not work for scott either... and there's a reason for that.

As of this weekend, I'm canvasing for a new painting!

Foster and Ford to the General... Wagman looking for a bail out!

[MB]

Mullah Omar... Thank you!