This winter, residents of Long Neck have been on high alert because of the crime-spree that engulfed the area since mid-fall ("Rising crime rate worries Long Neck Residents" 2/7/14). It's not enough to simply acknowledge the problem and finger point to the methadone clinic as Rep. Ruth Briggs-King has done. What's needed are solutions. At the very least, a police substation is needed to adequately serve Angola, Oak Orchard and Long Neck, as Sen. Brian Pettyjohn has suggested.
But action needs to be taken now and quickly. Pettyjohn's idea to keep a "close watch" does nothing to alleviate the need for more police in the area. We have a candidate running for state delegate who lives in Long Neck and is accutely aware of our concerns. Paulette Rappa will work to see that the substation is built where it will do the most good. She will reach out to the clinic to see how it can help address the drug-related problems that seemingly go hand-in-hand with the crime issues we've seen in our section of Sussex County. I applaud Ms. Rappa for being proactive on this issue. These are the viable solutions we need and Rappa will get the job done.
Sharon Miken
Long Neck
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