What If?

Erie Chief of Police Steve Franklin now feels that his Department is drastically in need of more officers!!!!  In an article in this morning’s Erie Times-News, Franklin stated that the recent upturn in criminal activity has stretched the ability of the department beyond the limit, and they are now unable to function with  effectiveness.  As […]

Here we go again—another shooting, another needless death.  WICU12 News reports yet another fatal shooting at 7th and Wallace, on the lower East Side.  Again and again we ask what the Mayor and Police are doing to bring the violent situation under control. 
I e-mailed the Mayor last week, asking him to comment on the problems;  […]

WICU followed up on yesterday’s violence at and around East High School, with comments by Chief Steve Franklin and FOP President Lt. Chris Lynch,  who of course are on opposite sides of the issue.
Lt. Lynch stated that yesterday’s mob scene illustrates the need to hire more officers, in light of the fact that only 20 […]

yourerie.com reports today that the long-awaited Parade Street renewal is set to begin this fall.  This welcome news was presented to a group of business owners and residents.
The project, which  will encompass the area from 6th to 15th Streets, will include boulevards, expanded sidewalks, and bringing the traffic signals up to date.
Following the recent decision […]

Channel 12 News tonight carried a report of a major group of young thugs fighting in the area of 10th and East Avenue just after school let out for the day.  It took the police over 2 hours to bring the situation under control.  It was also reported that only 20 officers were available to respond […]

The news we heard this week, of the murder of Anna Ropelewski, brings out all sorts of feelings: anger, sadness, questions of why, and most of all, the grief for the family and neighbors who are left behind to wonder why this heinous crime had to happen to someone who was loved so much by […]

My recent post, “Eight Great Tuesdays”, here at “What If?” has generated a host of comments, both on-line and in person.  A vast majority came from adults, not teens.  Most of the comments were critical of the actions of the Port Authority, (and by extension, the City of Erie), taken to eliminate young people less than […]

According to residents of lower west side neighborhoods along the bayfront, not all the noise on the Fourth of July came from the fireworks display put on by the city.  Even though all the streets were posted no parking, they were clogged with cars and revellers. Fireworks were being set off in the street, some […]

County Executive Mark Divecchio is planning to convene a ‘meeting of local elected officials’ within the next couple of weeks, to discuss how to best lobby Governor  Rendell for the 43.5 million dollars needed for the updates to the Tullio Arena.
It would seem to me that there are many more important areas that should be upgraded, […]

In a GoErie story tonight, Mayor Sinnott and Police Chief Franklin have taken steps to address the violence which has plagued the city for a couple weeks now.  While it seems a little inadequate, at least it’s a positive step.  The action will increase police presence on the street by two officers on each late shift, […]