7 New Public Safety Initiatives

Dear Malden Residents,

The recent unrelated acts of violence serve to remind us that the issue of public safety needs our constant attention. I want to thank the Malden Police Department and other law enforcement agencies for working diligently to solve the recent crimes that have negatively impacted our city. I also want to re-assure you that the safety of our residents and businesses is a priority for me. From meeting weekly with Police Department officials to holding eight public safety awareness meetings around the city, I am working closely with the City Council to make sure that our community is safe. This week I announced a series of initiatives that will further assist our law enforcement officials to help prevent crime and improve public safety. They are as follows:

1.    Hire additional Police Officers – I remain committed to increasing the number of police officers. Currently, we have 74 Patrol Officers and we are in the process of hiring 4 additional officers which will bring us to 78. Tonight, I propose adding 3 more that will result in a total of 81 police officers. The funding will come from citywide positions in the budget that have yet to be filled.

 

2.    Assign more Officers to the Anti-Crime Unit – This Unit was formed in 2010 and has been tasked with working in the Malden Center Train Station area and surrounding neighborhoods primarily during the evening hours. Currently, there are 3 officers assigned to this Unit. I propose the use of overtime funding to assign 2 additional officers to this group resulting in a 5-member Unit.

 

3.    Continue surveillance camera expansion – Surveillance Cameras are an effective technique to detect and deter criminal activity. The cameras provide another means for Police Officers to have a visible presence in certain areas of the City. We presently have 18 cameras around the city. I want to expand this number by adding 12 more which will give us a total of 30 surveillance cameras. The cost of the High Definition cameras which can pan, tilt, and zoom is estimated at $5,000 per unit. I propose that the total purchase price of $60,000 be funded through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that I will forward to the City Council in September-October.

 

4.    Purchase additional License Plate Readers – License Plate Readers can rapidly identify and process thousands of license plates compared to manual checks that might only be in the hundreds. Presently, we have 5 stationary readers and 3 in our police cruisers. I want to purchase an additional 2 stationary readers and one more to be installed in our police cruisers. The cost per unit is estimated at $20,000. I propose that the total cost of $60,000 be funded through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that I will forward to the City Council in September-October.

 

5.    Purchase more unmarked cars – Unmarked vehicles allow police officers the considerable advantage of patrolling areas and carrying out surveillance efforts while not being seen. I want to purchase 2 additional vehicles. The cost per vehicle is estimated at $15,000. I propose that the total cost of $30,000 be funded through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that I will forward to the City Council in September-October.

 

6.    Install a secure, high performance wireless broadband network – This private network owned, operated and managed by the Malden Police Department would significantly enhance both emergency and normal daily public safety operations. Such a network would:

 

·         stabilize and improve the performance of  the current  Police radio system and extend its useful life;

·         expand  high performance  video surveillance into new areas of the City while retaining the existing deployed cameras;

·         provide reliable, HD quality video images that will improve investigation and crime reduction capabilities; and

·         become a platform for importing non-City video feeds from schools, retail centers, and other locations into the 911 center. This would not only assist with investigations, but also improve emergency and incident responses.

 

I propose that the cost for installing and maintaining this network, once it’s finalized, be funded through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that I will forward to the City Council in September-October.

 

7.    Reopen Residential Permit Parking Program – The benefits that such a program offers would assist in promoting public safety by preventing unwanted vehicles on city streets. Permit parking stickers would be free for those already paying excise taxes. What this program would allow us to do is collect taxes from those residents not currently paying their fair share. These new monies would then be dedicated to hiring additional Police Officers. I have asked Councillor Kinnon as the City Council’s Public Safety Chairman to begin holding hearings on this initiative.

 

More importantly than any of the initiatives outlined above is the fact that we need your help. Please notify the Police Department if you see or hear about anything that is suspicious. In the meantime, always feel free to contact me with any questions at 781-397-7000, option 6 or mayor@cityofmalden.org. 

Communication and Responsibility: Learning as a summer youth intern

Communication and Responsibility: Learning as a summer youth intern

Guest Blogger: Rumana Papia

Working as an intern at the Superintendent's office has taught me the importance of communication and responsibility. Whether it was communicating with others in the office, with teachers of the schools, or interdepartmentally with Human Resources, the Business Department, and the Mayor’s Office, communication is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy school system and city.

Communication doesn’t just stop at the end of the school day when the bell rings. Parents and guardians are encouraged to stay engaged in their children’s school life. In one occasion a concerned parent began asking me questions about the High School considering her 13 year old daughter was going to be attending the following month. It was clear to me that education was incredibly important to her. In order to provide parents and children the best possible education experience they can receive, the Superintendent’s Office consults with constituents, keeps teachers’ files maintained, and makes sure each faculty member is properly equipped with appropriate skills so that the students have the opportunity to learn to be active progressives in the modern world. It is often said “children are the future,” but in order to obtain a successful and prosperous future, teachers, parents, and most importantly, students have to work together.

My supervisors, Jo Ann and Marie, taught me important lessons through my first job experience. They work closely with Superintendent David DeRousi, and their motivation has always been and will always be the children. These respectable women taught me that it is okay to ask questions, that it is alright to be curious, they explained to me how each person and each department is responsible for a specific task and that in order to keep Malden and its residents satisfied, one must make sure everyone contributes their part.

I am very thankful to have this job experience, the lessons I learned have given me a new perspective into the school system and will stay with me forever.

Growing from Summer Youth Program

Guest Blogger: Annie Feng

My name is Annie Feng, I came from China when I was 13 years old and shortly after, I went to Malden High School. In the fall I will be a freshman in college attending the University of Massachusetts Boston. 

Through the last five weeks’ working at My Little Best Friends Daycare, I have learned a few important lessons. Patience is the most important asset to have when taking care of kids. I always love kids and playing with them. But to be a babysitter, patience is something I have increasingly gained, along with a close eye for detail. Previous to my job, I knew how to change a diaper from taking care of my sister, but at the ELC I have learned to change more than one child. It was hard for me to become accustomed to, but I gradually learned how to balance multiple tasks and pay careful attention to everything. I have also learned what to do after a child finishes a meal, and to watch the kids carefully to ensure their safety.

Another important concept at work is to teach the children what to do and what not to do in the classroom. It has been difficult adjusting to this, but as the weeks went on, I grew confident and now I feel comfortable teaching the children life lessons. One instance of this was when we took the children to the park to play. We lined up and began walking; on the way to the park I was standing in the back of the line to make sure all the kids were safe and together. One child was looking back and not where he was walking and almost hit a tree, I quickly pulled him out so he would not get hurt. I told him that he needs to pay attention where he walks. Circumstances like this happen frequently when taking care of kids; we have to be very careful. I felt grateful that I was able to help this child stray from danger.

I am very happy to have this opportunity to work at My Little Best Friends and to grow from this experience. And I believe the lessons I learned here will help me in the future no matter what kind of career I would choose.

Walkability of the City of Malden

Dear Malden Residents,

As you may know, Malden was recently ranked as the 74^th most walkable city in Massachusetts.

Working together, I believe we can increase Malden’s walkability ranking. To that end I have appointed long-time Malden resident Sharon Santillo to lead the charge on this issue. I have also recently invited enthusiastic walkers in Malden to join the Committee to make recommendations to me about better signage and improvements to our crosswalks.

Since becoming Mayor, I have walked to City Hall many times and have seen firsthand that improvements must be made, particularly along the Route 60 corridor. My hope is that the Committee will submit their report and recommendations during the next few months so we that may consider potential cost implications as we continue to build our Capital Improvement Program.  I’m confident that Sharon and the Committee will help Malden to become more pedestrian friendly and will increase our city ranking!

If you would like to join Sharon in this important effort, please email Kathleen Manning Hall in my office at kmanninghall@cityofmalden.org or mail a letter of interest to the Mayor’s Office, Attn: Kathleen Manning Hall, 200 Pleasant Street, Room 627, Malden by next Tuesday, August 14^th.

Thank you and I look forward to our work together on this important issue!