SPicy spent time on the East Side this past weekend, looking at some of the new initiatives that City Council Candidate Pakou Hang will be championing in Ward 6. Most of it was what one would imagine is taught during the first day at Camp Wellstone.

SPicy was, however, amused by a couple of Pakou's ideas about public safety.  SPicy knows that every candidate is looking for a position that really differentiates one from another, but there are two that still have me scratching my head:

Pakou Hang states:

"Working with district councils, I will support funding for the distribution of welcome packages to new home owners. These packages will include low-pressure sodium vapor lights or lights that are triggered by motion detectors. Such security lighting can deter crime and increase residents' sense of security."

SPicy says - Huh?

Does Ms. Hang, plan to install all these new lights herself; or will the city provide a licensed union electrician?  And if the city has to install these lights, they will also need to be inspected - in addition to other paperwork, etc.

SPicy thinks that instead of increasing a resident's "sense of security", let's give law enforcement and the courts more support to actually increase residents real security by arresting and then putting in jail the actual thugs who are terrorizing our neighborhoods.  It may not be as progressive as light bulbs - but history shows it actually works.

There is no question that lighting can deter crime.  But if a new homeowner cannot afford a motion detector light, $19.99 at Home Depot, $29.99 at your local hardware store, then SPicy wonders if they can really afford the house that they just bought? Pakou, next time that light bulb goes off in your head, ask yourself if this is a good idea.

The second idea is very confusing - considering how concerned so many people are with visual blight in our community.

Pakou Hang states -

"In keeping with the Broken Windows Theory, I will ask the city to post multilingual "No Littering" signs throughout the neighborhoods, especially around school buildings and vacant lots."

SPicy says - Take that you vacant lot couch dumper! No Littering! Can't you read the sign. Take that garbage to Lilydale!  If this works, we can put up a whole series of other signs across the city:

Don't kill
Don't steal
Don't lie
Don't shoot people

But then - there's the song from the "Five Man Electrical Band:" 
      ... And the sign said anybody caught trespassing' would be shot on sight 

         So I jumped on the fence and-a yelled at the house, "Hey! What gives you the right to put up a fence to keep me out or to keep mother nature in"

         "If God was here he'd tell you to your face, Man, you're some kinda sinner"

                     Signs, Signs
                     Everywhere there's signs
                     Blocking up the scenery,
                     Breaking up my mind
                     Do this, don't do that
                     Can't you read the sign

SPicy hopes that in addition to telling people not to dump garbage, Ms. Hang demands that the following language also appears on the signs:

"If this sign is found blowing, drifting, floating or is otherwise damaged call "911" immediately. Officers will be dispatched with a hammer and nails to re-affix to a non-life form."

Instead of these ideas Ms. Hang, email SPicy at  tipline@saintpaulicy.com and report how much you are willing to raise the tax levy to balance the budget, will you support an effort to raise the restaurant tax? How much more funding would you direct to district councils, and where will you take it from?

And, if you could, please tell SPicy why you have the endorsement of Minneapolis Representative Keith Ellison but not the support of your own Representative Betty McCollum.

Is it because Dan Bostrom is a good Democrat, always has been and always will be? That he's an East Sider through and through.  Why anyone calling themselves a democrat would challenge this true leader is beyond SPicy's comprehension. 

SPicy will be here, wondering how your friends at "Progressive Majority" will tell you to respond.