Mayoral Candidates Address Violence
Mayoral Candidates Address Violence Save Email Print
Daub outlines crime plan, Vokal, Suttle chime in
Posted: 11:06 AM Jan 5, 2009
 Last Updated: 8:20 PM Jan 5, 2009
 Reporter: Gary Smollen
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com
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A former mayor believes his time out of politics makes him more qualified for the job. Omaha mayoral candidate Hal Daub unveiled his war on crime plan Monday.

With more than 40 murders in each of the last two years, crime is far and away the leading issue for the city's mayoral candidates.

"This is sort of something old and something new." Daub's plan has seven points, from using federal laws already on the books to beefing up state penalties for violent crime. He also wants the city to help fund some of the social and community programs.

"I see the value of early intervention and prevention activity and I see the struggle that all of these really good programs face monthly and yearly."

Click here for a summary of Daub's crime fighting proposals.

Jim Vokal's campaign takes to the airwaves on Tuesday. Fighting crime is his top priority as well. "It's about the right type of leadership. Mr. Daub, I respect him, but he's had his chance to lead on these issues and it's time for a new approach, a new, fresh vision."

Vokal says he has that vision to lead Omaha forward and reduce crime.

Jim Suttle disagrees, saying it's his experience the taxpayers of Omaha need at this time. "We will never solve the crime problem unless we are ready to solve the unemployment problem and we need to look at this in a very holistic manner."

All three say the root causes of violent crime must be addressed along with the end result of that violent crime.
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Posted by: Rick on Jan 10, 2009 at 12:18 PM
No they care about crime since it is election time. But how long have been on the city consul etc..
Posted by: Jerry on Jan 10, 2009 at 12:10 PM
Talk is Cheap and these guys are notoriously untrustworthy, these major candidates at good and smoke and mirrors, i.e. showman ship but are full of empty promises and after the campaign the will do nothing setting in the big houses to make us safe. We need solid new direction.
Posted by: Tony on Jan 7, 2009 at 05:02 PM
OK, so where is this innovative magic plan to eliminate crime? None of the candidates have proposed anything new, just a rehash of pathetic old ideas and nothing of real substance that will deter present criminal activity. Want gangbangers/muggers to get jobs and quit killing people? How does a chain gang sound (and I'm not talking about football)? Think about it, we sentence all the violent criminals and gangbangers (sometimes one and the same) to a chaingang to fix our sagging city infrastructure for the duration of their sentences. We will actually get something back for our hard earned tax dollars that pay to feed, house and cloth them and the criminal element would give something back to the community they have so wantonly violated. Our problem is that none of the present leadership (Daub included) can think outside of the box. Isn't there ANY other candidate who can come to our rescue? PLEASE!
Posted by: lm on Jan 7, 2009 at 02:51 PM
To Jay from Bennington: No Jay, I am not a gang member. Nor have I ever been a gang member. I am a NORTH OMAHA RESIDENT who really cares about the community and knows that putting another band-aid on this gaping moral wound is simply NOT going to help. I agree- it starts with parenting. Are you going to get up and teach it? Are you going to come to MY neighborhood and talk to the 13 year old gang members...who are armed?! Stay in Bennington. LOCK UP THE GANG MEMBERS-NO DEALS! The idea of using racateering laws to fight gang crime worked with the mafia of long ago. Let it work for MY NEIGHBORHOOD. Not every kid is bad. Not every family is bad. Those of us who care about our homes and our families and our neighborhoods are being bullied by those who don't. Stop giving deals and second chances. REAL PUNISHMENT FOR REAL CRIME!
Posted by: LLR on Jan 7, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Interesting to see two completely opposite views from two North Omaha residents (lm and john @ 6:42). The first one hits the nail right on the head. The second person assumes the usual "woe is me, the world owes me a living and preferential treatment" line that has been the downfall of the young black man for more than 40 years.
Posted by: tom on Jan 7, 2009 at 11:37 AM
How about parenting and staying in school? Almost all of the shooting victims and suspects come from broken homes and dropped out of "alternative" schools. There are jobs out there, so I'm tired of hearing about how N. Omaha needs jobs. N. Omaha needs leaders who will speak the truth and not blame others. Where is Bill Cosby when you need him? Why should my tax dollars pay for after school "baby sitting" for problem children? Why are my tax dollars spent on mothers who continue to have children, with differnt fathers, who are on welfare? Why are my tax dollars constantly paying for needless "studies", and entertainment items instead of street and sewer repairs, and public safety? Parents need to step up and take control of their children (by law in Nebraska, this is anyone under 19). Stay in school, and maybe pay attention to what the teacher is saying. Then get a job and become a productive member of society.
Posted by: Chortle on Jan 7, 2009 at 09:59 AM
In today's faltering economy, Suttle's holistic approach to crime fighting (providing jobs to the potential criminals) isn't viable. That and the fact that we are drastically cutting city services to bring our runaway budget under control so ALL of the candidates who propose funding these special social and community programs (which have yet to contain the criminal pandemic)had better be coughing up their own money. I'm too poor paying for my share of the $50 billion mandated sewer buildout, the $300 Million Qwest loan, $120 million for Fahey's Folley and ALL of the spiked pension fund retirement salaries for the police and fire departments. My view is that it's cheaper to buy a gun to protect my family/myself and lobby the state/federal governments to keep the most violent criminals off the street permanently (death penalty included). If this is the BEST that the current/past Omaha leadership has to offer than I agree with TJ, they will not bring us the CHANGE we need.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 7, 2009 at 07:41 AM
All of the candidates are a better option that Feeble Fahey.
Posted by: Homy on Jan 7, 2009 at 12:46 AM
Hey, let's say we get out of here, and build a memory together.
Posted by: john on Jan 6, 2009 at 06:42 PM
Jobs will be a good solution for north omaha. All these comments are racially bias. Why would any one want people to kill each other?? These comments show evil people in omaha that SUPPOSE to be christians or catholic. All you guys care about is yourselves. How can jobs help when they voted to get rid of affirmative action??? Just sad to see these comments when I live in north o. People get on here talk like we are animals born to kill. No one wants to talk about how the guns or drugs get into the community. Look how they handled the meth epidemic. The supplying of alcohol to minors. These two problems happen outside of north o and still got handled.
Posted by: J from Bennington on Jan 6, 2009 at 06:02 PM
Okay, I'm being naive, but I assumed that not everyone in North or South O belonged to gangs, and that not everyone had a criminal record. The jobs Ignacio proposed (and I supported) would be for them. I don't think everyone involved in gang activity is an illegal, so eliminating the war on drugs won't make them all go away. I do agree that a criminal record makes it harder to get a job - new employers that set up shop & receive tax benefits to do so have to allow for that, and potential applicants have to remain drug-free to get employed. I grew up in South O, not North O and can't speak to the daily issues there, but I know and have met wonderful people who live there now. lm, you're not a gang member, are you? So you prove my point. I don't have all (or most of) the answers, but I do have hope.
Posted by: lm on Jan 6, 2009 at 03:19 PM
First off, I have ALWAYS lived in north omaha so I have some idea of what really goes on. Daub has great ideas. They have the potential to really work but I agree that he won't be able to accomplish anything if we get back into politics as usual. For ANYONE who says "they just need jobs" GET REAL. Go live down north for awhile. We have 19 year olds with 3 "baby mamas" all collecting state checks. If said "baby daddy" gets a REAL job he will have to pay CHILD SUPPORT (collective gasp). No drug dealing pimp is going to give up the hundreds if not thousands he can make a day in order to go work an unskilled low paying FACTORY JOB. Are you kidding?! To anyone who things more education is needed-you get the 12 year old gang bangers to go to school. For the "community program" people- There are some fantastic community programs that already exist-and need help-see Hope Center! Just spend some time in the neighborhood! Lock them up! NO DEALS FOR GANG MEMBERS!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 6, 2009 at 02:36 PM
J, I don't think It would be neccesary to arrest or deport them all. Ending the war on drugs would put the drug gangs out of business the same way ending prohibition put bootleggers out of business. Ending social benefits for illegals would send millions more packing back home. The ones that were left would for the most part be pulling their own weight and not be much of a problem. It's not the government's job to create jobs. It's the governments job to protect our borders and protect our freedom, which would, provide for free enterprize and opportunity for honest people, the way it should be.
Posted by: Katie on Jan 6, 2009 at 02:32 PM
Yes, bring more jobs to the crime plagued areas...but how does that help the ones that already have a criminal record and can't get hired because of it? How does Ignacio and J propose those men/boys get jobs? If you can't GET hired, you can't work, no matter how many jobs are available to you in your area. Then you are back to where you started... I can see where more jobs might seem like an easy fix, but it's a very small piece of the large, broken puzzle....
Posted by: Vince on Jan 6, 2009 at 02:05 PM
Consider taking some of the money used to catch people drinking and driving and push some of it towards fighting gang violence...a bigger problem in Omaha.
Posted by: J from Bennington on Jan 6, 2009 at 12:48 PM
2 comments re previous posts. 1) Julie is correct: Daub's previous stint as mayor was marked with bitter acrimony with the City Council. He won't be able to get anything done if elected - again. 2) Why is Ignacio's post being ridiculed? He's got a good point - the good jobs, homes and schools *are* out west, past mass transit, and where people don't tolerate violence. Give people a source of pride, hope and income *other* than the gangs. The local community will quit tolerating the gang members who live in their homes and on their streets. You can't arrest or deport them all. Address the root causes AND use law enforcement.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 6, 2009 at 04:11 AM
End the war on drugs and no more drugs gangs. No more drug gang violence. Cut off welfare and other social benefits for illegals aliens and their anchor babies and most illegal aliens will go back where they came from. These two measures would go along way in decreasing our violent crime and wouldn't cost tax payers anything. Everone elses ideas have been tryed and failed.
Posted by: TJ on Jan 6, 2009 at 03:06 AM
Daub is nothing more than a professional politician. He bounces around from 1 gig to the next. The other 2 candidates, both councilmen, are as much responsible for this cities current problems , as the clown we currently call the mayor. I would like to see someone with a blue collar background, who is in touch with the people of this city, step up and run. The current choices will not bring the change that this city is in need of.
Posted by: Adam on Jan 6, 2009 at 12:31 AM
Oh boy!! Help MR. WIZARD.......
Posted by: Larry on Jan 5, 2009 at 11:42 PM
You folks haven't watched/read the news carefully enough. Even Brad Ashford (State Senator) has talked about funding ex-badguys and current gangbangers to go on the streets to find and beg the perps to give up their life of crime. He and Mr. Suttle want us all to get involved and make a difference. I have not heard of any success by the marchers and park gatherers, nor the Guardian Angels. I tried to help get the GA established here but I guess they gave up. Too bad the city council, mayor, OPD, OCCP, NH Watch...and tne legislature won't fund more regular officers and groups like GA. Mr. Suttle will apparently talk with gang members for information but hasn't given GA the time of day. Look them up on the web (they aren't just street thugs)!
Posted by: Mike on Jan 5, 2009 at 10:16 PM
I remember when OPD were getting their helicopter. Daub hid the actual costs from the public and Deputy Chief O'Donnell came forward with the real information and costs. Daub is not honest and not the best choice. we need a real crime fighter, daub is a failed DC boy, voted out of Omaha, and desperate. Vote in the new blood.!
Posted by: James on Jan 5, 2009 at 09:12 PM
Good idea Rob in fact they could have a reserve officer program also.
Posted by: Bonnie on Jan 5, 2009 at 07:22 PM
In the past nine years I have contacted Hal Daub twice about serious issues of concern to me, once when he was mayor and once since he has announced his candidacy. Both times he responded immediately, not with remedies that I totally agreed with but he took a dogged interest in what I had to say and threw his ideas out. More than I can say for Vokal. Suttle, like Vokal, has had nearly eight years on the City of Omaha bully pulpit with no success in the fight against this paralyzing, violent crime wave. Give Daub another chance, replace Vokal & Suttle with fresh blood and councilmen or women who care more about the violent crime than college baseball. Daub has the brains, the contacts and the love for this city to tackle it.
Posted by: Robert on Jan 5, 2009 at 07:07 PM
I hope to God Hal Daub is not elected mayor again. Blech!
Posted by: Rob on Jan 5, 2009 at 05:57 PM
If Daub gets in it will be just like having Fahey give me a break these two guys are one in the same its a bad idea for Omaha. Maybe OPD should offer a program where a person can go thru police officer training program paid by the person and have a option to get on the force at a lower paid wage I know several people that would be willing to do this as they dont care about the money they just want to be police officers. This way there are more officers on the streets fighting crime.
Posted by: Sid on Jan 5, 2009 at 05:40 PM
I would like to see more parent(s) included in the jail sentence of their kids. Now, they just cry about their child and say the po-lice are too hard on their babies. Too late at that point, mom. Maybe they would pay more attention if they were punished as well - perhaps welfare would be cut off for a month, no food stamps, take away the cell phone and ciggies, - put them on notice that they have a part in their kid's activities. Also, there used to be a policy that welfare would only pay for two children, but when did that go away. Guess some folks couldn't count, and the county didn't want child 3,4,5..... to starve. The mothers didn't care, however. Nor the phantom fathers.
Posted by: Rich on Jan 5, 2009 at 05:25 PM
Both city council men have in office while crime has risen to record heights. Daub seemed to keep things under control while he was mayor. The city council is part of the problem and not the solution. vote all the city council out next chance we get and put some fresh voices in office while we can. Daub will do a good job running our city once again. He is a fair man with a good vision.
Posted by: To R on Jan 5, 2009 at 04:20 PM
That's so right! We need to provide money for free birth control to people who need it! Not that everyone is smart enough to take advantage, but this state is WAY too willing to shell out money to baby factories who have no interest in raising the kids, just taking the food stamps and selling them, and selling their medicaid cards to others for use at the doctor's office...I could go on for hours about how disgusting and out of control the situation is, but I don't have the time.
Posted by: information on Jan 5, 2009 at 04:13 PM
Can someone please give a website where it shows statiscal information on what section of the city our tax payer's dollars have been going? If it's in North Omaha, then I am shocked because I don't see any change, besides in the amount of police patroling the streets. I don't see any new programs for children, especially young men, who are both victims and criminals of gang violence. I hear a lot, but talk is cheap. Please, let me know what part of my checks are trying to improve North Omaha? All my neighbors have jobs with kids, and none that I'm aware of, get aid from the state. Did I mention I live in North O? But it doesn't matter if the state helps or not. Where is my money going because there are too many people thinking it going to my community when obviously it's not? People like facts and I want some proof.
Posted by: ??? on Jan 5, 2009 at 03:47 PM
Why are many of you even suggesting that these low-life-gang-bangers "get jobs"? Why would they walk away from the lifestyle they already have? For what...minimum wage...40 hours per week...? They can make more money on the streets - running drugs...dealing weapons...robbing people...etc then they could ever dream of making at some 9 to 5 job - and it's "tax free". They can make their tax-free gang money, while their gangwhores and gang babies live off the honest working tax payers. The problem with "letting them kill each other" is that there are too many innocent people getting cought in the violence too. If it were just gangbangers killing other bangers, then I'm all for it. Problem is that's not the way it's been working out.
Posted by: To the Bat Cave on Jan 5, 2009 at 03:26 PM
TO Ignacio: At what point do "so called gangbangers" become real gangbangers? Because I'm sure killing, raping and robbing definatley qualifies them as real bangbangers. Thanks for playing.
Posted by: Toney on Jan 5, 2009 at 03:19 PM
Yes I to would like to know where this money is coming from. Could it be the MECA budget, are the retired officers going to volunteer there time since they are the reason we have budget problems. The addition of a commissioner sounds like some one Daub can control and buffer him from the Chief and city council. Why don't we just call the National Guard if it is so serious OPD can't do there job. Better yet the highway patrol, I see more activity from law enforcement when they are in town. Sorry to be negative, but the problem is proactivity in other cities " Comparable Size " the officers have a presence, they beat the crowd to the spot. Daub is still full of hot air. Bring on the FEDS because Omaha can not handle their job.
Posted by: Rick on Jan 5, 2009 at 03:17 PM
Who cares who the man looks like...i'm just grateful that those that are commenting on his looks don't show pics...i'd have a hayday with those...NOW, to the issue at hand. OPD can arrest as many as they can, but until the criminals stop getting reduced sentences...things aren't going to change...
Posted by: Mary O. on Jan 5, 2009 at 03:00 PM
It's sad that our city officials couldn't have been this productive before they announced their candidacy for mayor. But, if they're serious, I'm behind them.
Posted by: Rita on Jan 5, 2009 at 02:46 PM
(Hal Daub LOOKS like Adam West....) All of the candidates stink. They REEK of the political "good ol' boy" stench that has kept this city in fiscal turmoil and it will continue. Change is what Omaha needs. Warren Buffett - step up to the plate! It's only for a few years - c'mon, you can do it! Please!!!!!
Posted by: R on Jan 5, 2009 at 02:37 PM
I think we should not reward single low-income parents to keep popping out baby after baby. If they are only seen as a way of getting additional funds and services, why would they care if they are running around at all hours. Let's reward mothers and fathers for doing well with a couple children and enriching their own lives through education. Instead of paying to feed this brood of money makers, let's pay the mom's and dad's to use long term birth control or permanent birth control. Let us value our children, not send them out into the dark night with other 10 and 11 years olds to learn how to live.
Posted by: Whatever on Jan 5, 2009 at 02:23 PM
I dont see a problem with violence in Omaha. Basically, the gang members are all killing eachother and whats wrong with that? Let them kill eachother. Once they do, we will save alot of welfare, food stamp, and Medicaid money that we were likely giving them.
Posted by: To Ignorant Ignacio on Jan 5, 2009 at 02:20 PM
Stop the hating already....geez!! Do you live here? Where does all your information come from? I think Omaha needs to come together as a community and stop pointing fingers every which way. What a way to start off your post "You people in Omaha are so dumb." If you think you have much better ideas..bring them to the table, if you don't then shut up!
Posted by: Alison on Jan 5, 2009 at 02:18 PM
Yes, Ignacio, that's the solution. Offer jobs to these gang members. I am sure you'd have to drag 95% of them kicking and screaming to a "real" job. Which do you think they'd rather do, sit around their house all day and do nothing and then run the streets all night making money when they feel like it, or go to work at a job where they have people telling them what to do. Have you never MET a gang member before? They don't respond well to authority, if you couldn't figure that out on your own! Even if they were to get jobs, do you think they'd keep the jobs long? I see what you are saying by catching them before they get involved in gangs in the first place, but that is going to be tough. More jobs isn't the answer. Being attracted to a gang is a personal choice, and no amount of jobs in that part of town is going to help. The answer is educating them in the first place.
Posted by: LLR on Jan 5, 2009 at 02:15 PM
Apparently Hal didn't get the memo that the City of Omaha can't afford new recruiting classes of police officers, new squad cars or new equipment. But we CAN afford fancy manhole covers, a new baseball stadium, a new waterpark and...wait, where'd the money go they saved by not getting the salt/sand trucks out in a timely manner Saturday? Oh, riiiiight...in the end they had to pay them all overtime to play catchup to a job that should have been anticipated and met head-on in the first place. I think our CAT could do a better job at running the city than Fahey.
Posted by: D on Jan 5, 2009 at 02:14 PM
Yah like any of this is going to help.
Posted by: a on Jan 5, 2009 at 02:11 PM
What has Vokal been doing all these years in the City Council? Why didn't he try and solve the problems before? Foot patrols? The Mayor and City Council are responsible for the staffing problem with OPD. If the police can't fill every district, where will they get the extra officers to patrol on foot? The mayor has already pushed the next recruit class back, starting in late 2009, which means they won't work the streets until spring 2010. The city keeps growing, but OPD numbers continue to fall. Five years ago the area that I worked had two crews of 12-14 officers each, working in a precinct. Today, in the same precinct, we average 6-7 officers. The area I work has nine districts. With a full crew (8), we cannot cover all these districts. It takes about nine months to train an officer had deploy them on the street. I can' remember when our staffing was even close to the "non-mandatory" resolution the council passed. More crime and retirements coming soon.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 5, 2009 at 02:07 PM
For those of you suggesting that Omaha doesn’t need more cops, but instead get churches and community groups involved, what do you want them to do? This is the same thing as saying “take back your neighborhood”, what do you expect us to do? I belong to a church that has a youth group and family events and charity drives. What are they supposed to do, move those events to the crime ridden parts of town…I don’t think so. Survey ex-gang members in jail and ask them if bible study after school would have stopped them from murdering someone at 2AM. Make the punishment fit the crime and see if that helps. How about charging/fining the parents of these minors that get arrested for neglect. Put the responsibility back on the parents, not the community.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 5, 2009 at 01:58 PM
DAUB NEEDS TO GO AWAY JUST LIKE FAHEY. WE NEED FRESH YOUNG BLOOD IN OMAHA TO TACKLE THE ISSUES. DAUB AND FAHEY NEED TO PACK UP AND TAKE OFF. tHEY BOTH HAVE DONE ENOUGH DAMAGE TO OUR CITY.
Posted by: Mr. T on Jan 5, 2009 at 01:55 PM
Round up these thugs, put them in a 20 foot high concrete cage, give them guns and let them go at each other. Gang problem solved!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 5, 2009 at 01:50 PM
Vokal, another critic who offers nothing of substance Must be where he got his name. At least Hal Daub has a plan. All Vokal and Suttle plan to attack is Daub.
Posted by: Julie on Jan 5, 2009 at 01:21 PM
I don't believe I read anything regarding the funding of these positions. Let us not forget the interactions between the mayor's office and the city council when Mr. Daub was in that office the first time. The daily conflicts were regularly front page news. The time they wasted was a waste of our tax dollar, not to mention that it was simply embarassing. From what was observed during his tenure on the MECA board, I doubt he has gained any new skills in this regard.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 5, 2009 at 01:08 PM
If OPD is having a hard time defeating gangs, maybe it's got a lot to do with the thugs they arrest having their charges plea-bargained down, getting ridiculously short sentences (even just probation, no jail), and being ushered back out on the street after serving just half of those short sentences.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 5, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Another paid public official, more bureacry a bigger government do we really need this guy as mayor.
Posted by: mike on Jan 5, 2009 at 12:40 PM
I don't see where Hal Daub says how he plans of paying for this. It looks like a lot of people will be hired, and I have to assume that they plan on being paid for their services. I haven't thought much of some of Jim Vokal's work in city council, but I think he's right in pushing the community to get involved. When churches, schools and parents teach kids the difference between right and wrong and how to stand up for what is right, then real change will come.
Posted by: JoeE on Jan 5, 2009 at 12:26 PM
... here we go again- All we've heard from the last Natl & Locl campaigns is the 'Tax & Spend Democrats'.... where does Daub think that these adl positions & expenditures are going to come from... as much as 'you' (Republicans) promote 'cut spending/taxes' as soon as you get in office it is a different story... or is this a 'big line of ....' just like the last 8yrs in Washington D.C. was....
Posted by: ignacio on Jan 5, 2009 at 12:21 PM
you people in omaha are so dumb! Mr.Daub if you really think more police officers are going to stop the violence you need to hit the alarm clock and wake up, whats going to stop it is bringing business back to the central part of the city which would mean jobs for these youth that you are saying are turning to gangs.For years omaha has gradually moved the jobs , corporations, activities to the west side where most of these so-called gang bangers are not accepted, for gods sake the public transportation system in omaha doesn't go pass the westroads mall but all the jobs are further out than that! What would keep kids out of gangs is the hope that they can go to work and be a productive part of society! Do you really think that these kids want to be in gangs. With no hopes for a future most kids say forget it I'll join a gang, sell some drugs that seems to be the only way to make money in omaha, why not. Omaha needs to wake up, you people(The leaders) in omaha created this problem.
Posted by: Gang Hater on Jan 5, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Let these thugs kill each other. Omaha has wasted enough resources on trying to improve North Omaha. There is nothing a "Hometown Security Commisioner" can do to help. At this rate we should be gang free by hmm I'd say 2000 and never!!!
Posted by: Jimmy on Jan 5, 2009 at 11:52 AM
I think we are on the right track with this plan. Lets also try to make some of these penalties longer jail time for these guys. Anyone with an unregistered gun should get a mandatory 3 years jail time. Get these criminals thinking about how long they could do if they get caught. Right now they dont care if they get caught, because their jail time is a joke. Thats if they get time at all.
Posted by: Omaha on Jan 5, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Will this commissioner have a bat phone?? Boy, Hal Daub looks and sounds like Adam West, From the Bat Man TV series. HOLY KAZOW! Daub
Posted by: ToddM on Jan 5, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Haven't we been trying these community outreaches for years? And look where we're at. Why is it the city's job to provide programs to keep people from killing each other? Omaha's known for having the most parks than most other bigger cities. There's not a lack of things to do. As I've said before, we used to go do outlandish things like play baseball, football and basketball. This was without government intervention. The problem is these kids don't have role models to start with. The adults they see are the ones doing the shootings. A lot's changed since I was in school. Kids don't try out for sports or band, which was a big thing back in the 80's. Civic pride is down. You could really go on and on. But another program isn't likely to work. Sorry to sound so pessimistic.
Posted by: Charlie on Jan 5, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Hal Daub is certainly the man for the job as the Mayor. He has a no-nonsense approach and although he'll hurt some egos along the way, he'll get the job done. Good Luck Hal!
Posted by: Bruce Wayne on Jan 5, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Hometown Securtiy Commisioner?!?!?! Expert in fighting gangs?!?!?! Sounds like a call for Batman...
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