Public Safety

By Pedro Gonzalez

Collaborative efforts result in community benefits

By establishing clear plans and communication channels, projects such as the Colma-Creek Canal reconstruction take effect. During my tenure as Mayor, representatives from all of the above mentioned levels of government plus environmental agencies came together and agreed to a 50-year prevention plan for the Canal, which will avoid water overflowing in the future.

Those members of the emergency response teams who are entrusted in a time of crisis to maintain safety deserve the best training and environment in order to be ready. The City leadership has approved the purchase of a building site for the new Fire Station in the North Canal area providing the most modern and updated headquarters for those who keep the City safe.

The responsibility for public safety does not lie just with police officers or fire fighters. To that effect, the Citizen's Police Academy continues to train residents, twice per year for 14 weeks, about their rights and responsibilities in collectively keeping the community safe. Issues of when to call for help, what information to give, what resources are available to residents, what determines consequences and how the City ordinances apply form part of the information presented. The belief driving this community empowerment is that a knowledgeable public strengthens the City, resulting in sharing the task of community safety.

Whether we partner with various levels of government, or with our citizens, achieving beneficial results require that collaboration be a real option that is used on an ongoing basis.