What about the Good News?

We are hearing a lot in the news about Portland's TriMet (rail and bus public transit system) as the level of associated mayhem and murder has grown to the point that it can no longer be ignored. Gang bang!

But what about the Good News out of Salem?

This news has to do with how changes in our area Bus (transit) System has resulted in a great reduction of crime and violence. That is except for problems at the downtown transit center where the criminals are now forced to congregate.

You see, last Spring the voters soundly defeated a ballot measure that was intended to greatly expand the bus system and secure operating money needed to sustain an earlier service increase.

The end result of the ballot failure was a service decrease of 50% in many areas and a greater decrease of criminal activity in those same areas. Yahoo!

Even the crazies don't want to be stranded in a strange neighborhood for over an hour let alone the fast moving drug sellers and/or burglars.

What we have here is a win-win-win-win.

We have less bus noise to contend with, less crazies and criminals wandering our neighborhoods looking for kids to attack or something to steal, less tax waste and the Police have most of them corralled downtown where the drug buyers must now come to find the dealers.

But you should hear the downtown retailers screaming. They want something done about all the criminals wandering the streets and hassling shoppers.

Now, where do you suppose they came from?