College-aged renters and loud parties, a new fire station in south University City and a recent pipe bomb incident were the main topics of a public safety forum held Thursday, Oct. 19, at University City High School. Residents were able to address local police officers and fire and rescue crewmembers about neighborhood concerns.
The meeting, which was held by the University City Community Association (UCCA) and attended by about 30 people, aimed to educate on safety issues in the home and throughout the community and provide information on how to prevent crime.
“You are very lucky,” said Lt. Chris Ellis of the San Diego Police Department’s Northern Division. “University City is a nice, safe community. For the most part, violent crime statistics are very small here.”
Some people in the audience were unsure, however, about Ellis’ comments, which he based on personal experience over the six years he has spent at the department’s Northern Division.
Suspicious youths at a park near the intersection of Governor Drive and Gullstrand Street had been noticed by several residents in the area, according to UCCA member Sandy Lippe.
Police in his division had not received any calls about that park in particular, Ellis replied. He encouraged Lippe and others to report unusual activity in their neighborhood by using the non-emergency phone line.
A couple who live near the intersection of Lipmann and Robbins streets said a few of their neighbors, who were mostly college-aged individuals, were hosting 30- to 40-people “meetings” that were not necessarily parties, but that were still loud enough to keep them awake late at night.
“We don’t want to stay up and we don’t want 40 cars in our small neighborhood,” the resident said to Ellis, Lt. Andra Brown, Officer Charlie Wetzel and Detective Gary Scott, all of the Northern Division. “I see this problem really growing because as the housing market slows, more and more houses are for rent.”
Another woman in the audience said she had experienced loud partiers in her neighborhood, and had had beer bottles thrown on her front lawn.
Whenever a neighbor is disturbing the peace, even if the person is not having a party and the incident is not during quiet night hours, a complaint can still be made, Wetzel said. If the residents are affiliated with a college or university, they can be reported and the school can take action, Brown added.
“People have to call us and they have to be willing to file a complaint,” Ellis said.
Detective Gary Scott agreed with Ellis, asking the audience for help in finding the individuals responsible for placing a homemade pipe bomb, made with a galvanized plumbing pipe, near a garage on Dennison Street.
Although police have obtained a video of the incident, and know what type of vehicle the suspects were driving, they could not zoom in on the license plate, Scott said.
“We need your help in finding these guys,” Scott said. “We found pieces of pipe in the house across the street that had to be pulled out of the siding with pliers. There is no question it would have killed someone.”
The panel of police and fire staff assured residents that they were willing to help with any issue, but emphasized that people must also help accommodate their needs in emergency situations.
Recent structure fires in the area were caused by unattended candles, said Fire Chief Bruce Catelli, who also warned people to be careful not to keep their Christmas trees for too long after the holiday, since the dry trees also contribute to fires.
Inattentive drivers, especially those using cell phones while operating their vehicles, pose a problem for fire and emergency vehicle drivers, warned Capt. Dave Connor of Fire Station 35 at Eastgate Mall.
Many drivers do not see or hear a fire truck approaching in time to pull over to the right side of the road, he said.
“We can’t have cell phones on in the fire engine, and that would be a good policy for you folks, too,” Connor said. “It isn’t safe.”
Talk of emergency response time, which should be no more than six minutes, according to Cartelli, produced several comments from audience members about implementing a fire station in south University City.
While the city passed an amendment in August to add additional fire stations to UC’s community plan, it lacks the funding necessary to staff and equip these stations unless a link to north University City can be drawn, said Madeline Baudoin, representative for District 1 City Councilman Scott Peters.
The UCCA is an organization that puts together monthly educational events for people who live and work in UC. A $15 donation is required to become a member. For information, contact UCCA President Hugh Pates, (858) 453-0645.