Safety for Seniors and Safe Schools for our Children

By Ruth Sterling

This is a joint effort, a collaboration of the community, law enforcement, faith based organizations, social clubs, schools, businesses, hospitals and volunteers.

La Mesa's 2003 and recently updated, Mixed - use Overlay Zone will provide long held goals for transit corridors which will include revitalization of properties, increased housing and retail opportunities and supports pedestrian walkways and bike lanes, the preservation of open space and trees. Our downtown village is enchanting, distint with charm. I envision new infrastructure and economic development that is affordable for shoppers. Transportation that is convenient, accessible and again affordable. I dream of a minnie bus that will go into the neighborhoods and pick-up people to go to the trolley or drop off for shopping will become a must as the population continues to age. If a senior does not drive they have no way to get out of their neighborhood to do errands except by friends or an expensive taxi. Rides 4 Neighbors, is great but cannot do it all. La Mesa's Community Summit in 2005, identified revitalization of the city's neighborhoods and transportation corridors as one of our 5 year objectives.

Now again, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of understanding how much the global village concept can help us in times such as these. It truly takes a village to raise a child, as they say, and even in times such as these, the way our children our raised will effect the quality of life of our seniors. If we want to keep crime such as graffiti, vandalism, gangs, robberies, and burglaries out of La Mesa, then we must not only invest in our police department, but in our schools, our parks, and our business community. That kind of investment requires participation from all of us.