Alameda’s Biggest Crime Hotspots
In light of the recent events at South Shore Shopping Center I think we need to have an honest conversation about crime in Alameda. South Shore Shopping Center is Alameda’s biggest crime hotspot followed by Alameda Landing, North Webster Commercial District, Summer Home Apartments, and the Park St Parking Garage/CVS. What do they all have in common?
Big empty parking lots. Parking lots provide criminals:
* Unsecured high value property
* Quick getaway routes
* Poor lighting and visibility
* Few witnesses
These locations consume a huge portion of the local police force’s time and budget but produce very little property tax and sales tax per sqft compared to mixed-use transit-oriented areas. Having less parking lots would improve safety and save lives yet instead we give them tax breaks and even spend our tax dollars building them.