June 4, 2007 — A forum scheduled for June 13 will bring together government officials, Red Hook residents and business owners to discuss public-safety concerns on the East End of St. Thomas, according to a news release from Senator-at-Large Carmen Wesselhoft.
The public is encouraged to attend and testify. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in the Legislative Chambers.
“Red Hook has almost become a town unto itself over the last few years,” Wesselhoft said, according to the news release. “Yet there is no formal police presence, no fire station and inadequate management of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.”
Security issues in Red Hook topped her list of concerns on taking office earlier this year, said Wesselhoft, who chairs the Committee on Public Safety, Homeland Security and Justice.
“Beginning in January, I met with individual residents and the Red Hook Alliance to discuss their concerns and possible solutions,” she said. “I immediately asked that the police take a more active role in Red Hook and, per one of my requests, an officer was assigned to manage traffic there during the afternoon rush hour. It is a start.”
The East End needs a permanent police sub-station and fire station, Wesselhoft said.
“Ideally there would be an emergency service center, with police, fire and ambulance stationed on the East End,” she said. “We also need something similar and permanent for the Northside and Bordeaux.”
Wesselhoft has already submitted legislation for an additional police substation on St. Croix and is pushing for the completion of an emergency service center in Coral Bay on St. John, according to the news release.
Traffic congestion, a lack of sidewalks and crosswalks and ongoing construction have also made Red Hook hazardous to traverse, Wesselhoft said. Public Works has been invited to attend the June 13 forum as they play a role in ensuring public safety on the east end.
For more information about the forum, call 693-3546.
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