BREAKING NEWS: Off-duty LAPD officer stabbed outside San Pedro bar

Wake up call in lovely San Pedro

What does it take for people to realize we have a huge problem? A ruinous end to one of the biggest fund raising nights of the year? A tragic event at a brand new hot spot? A nearly fatal injury to a police officer?

How about all of the above.

As anyone reading this paper knows an off-duty LAPD officer was stabbed outside of Crimsin bar in San Pedro last Saturday morning.

More shocking than that is the total lack of progress in keeping this town safe. What’s the problem? I’ll tell you…

1. A beautiful renaissance in downtown the likes of which this city hasn’t seen in 70 years but with inadequate security. Olde Town Pasadena didn’t just grow it invested in bike patrols. So did Pine Avenue in Long Beach.

2. Property values largely holding steady and at near record highs but graffiti on Gaffey worse than it was 20 years ago. Homes in Torrance don't cost much more than ours but are free of graffiti and their cars stay parked.

3. Take a look at LAPD’s website for crime statistics. Plug in your address and count the number of grand theft autos in your neighborhood in the last 6 months. 20 or so? Try 120.

These crimes are happening out in the open! The good news? They can be easily prevented because they can be seen with just a little effort and investment.

Who are the sh**holes doing these things in our town? If they are from here they should be easy to catch and a delight to get rid of.

If not they should be even easier to catch. San Pedro isn’t South Central with 360degree exit points. We are on a peninsula with one way in and one way out, unless you want to deal with Lomita sheriffs.

A friendly warning to anyone driving up 9th street who doesn't live there -- smile you're on candid camera and we just ran your plate.

Why isn’t there a police box at 9th and Gaffey, perhaps the biggest no brainer of all? Don’t tell me we can’t afford it.

With the hundreds of millions being invested downtown not to mention the existing taxes, refinery revenue and upcoming revenue from the waterfront project there is plenty of money to invest in basic security.

Of course LA City needs to chip in a whole boatload of cash from the docking fees they charge ships at "their" port. We get the dust and eye sores (literally), give us some money now. Or partol our streets 24/7.

More patrols would of course also help to deter. If this sounds like theory why don’t we pilot a project for all of LA? Measure the investment and return. Baseline statistics are sadly there.

I’m guessing the downtown developers would eagerly pay for the pilot, if the city agrees to take it over when it is proven to work.

Patrols too still expensive? Ineffective? How about setting up cameras pointed at the spots that get hit over and over again with graffiti and burlarly.

That would cost less than all of the clear up the locals and city have been doing and nip the problem in the bud.

Think of the payback in property values, entertainment revenue, insurance (GTA), police reporting, better students in school, etc.

Better yet think of what downtown is going to be like if those new properties go vacant. Oh they'll finally rent them out, to you know who.

As it is who would come here for a night on the town after a police officer is nearly fatally stabbed at our newest, trendiest bar?

The community needs reassurance that the long delayed opening of Harbor Division is why we lack patrols. Otherwise let’s get citihood looked at again.

And we don't need a partnership with Wilmington to get this done. Oil refinery revenues are way up and the waterfront complex on its way.

There are small communities all over Southern California with their own police departments.

They are safe and don’t have graffiti. Let’s ask them for their secrets, since we don't have a frickin' clue and haven't in 50 years.

A friend of San Pedro (no longer living there)