Updated 07/13/2011 07:06 PM
City replaces lights to help fight crime
The City of Syracuse, like every urban area across the country, continues its struggle to reduce crime. YNN's Bill Carey says there are some tentative signs that there is progress in the struggle.
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The City of Syracuse was joining forces with National Grid to take yet another step to battle crime. That step? Fix broken street lights across the city, and there were plenty of them to be fixed.
“In total we repaired over 700 lights. To be more specific, 773 lights,” said Melanie Littlejohn, National Grid.
The city is hoping better lighting makes it less likely there will be crime on some street corners.
There is some optimism in the fight against crime in the City of Syracuse. Officials say the summer of 2011, so far, has been quieter than several summers in the recent past.
Just a year ago, the city was coping with a series of shootings. Those gun incidents haven't come to an end, but their numbers are down.
“We're working as hard as we can, every day, to utilize every tool that we can. And we're thankful that people feel better. Feel calmer. Feel safer,” said Stephanie Miner, (D) Syracuse Mayor.
“I seldom brag about, you know, crime trends or statistics because there's still a lot of work yet to be done,” said Frank Fowler, Syracuse Police Chief.
The city's police chief says some good police work has made a difference, but he also credits more community involvement.
“You know, we've had three homicides this year. All three are closed by arrests. And had it not been for the cooperation of the witnesses there, in and around the scene, there's no way that those homicides would be closed,” said Fowler.
The mayor says crime is a complicated issue. There have been improvements, but it's too early to say the war is being won.
“I think it would be foolish to say there is a cause and effect relationship as simple as that,” said Miner.
The police chief is just hoping the trends continue. Reluctant to claim that, so far, the summer of 2011 is quieter.
I don't use the Q word in my line of business,” said Fowler.