Mayfair in Tampa Palms

Ann's Recap from the Neighborhood Watch Meeting /July18

Jul 29, 2006

There were more people at this Neighborhood Watch meeting ?…?…?… ten in all?…?…... and the primary subject of the meeting was the Pros and Cons of the gate for Mayfair. Officer LaRosa explained to us - that there are few pros with the gate. Seems as if there's no difference in the crime factor between gated communities and non- gated communities. That coupled with the fact that Mayfair is a completely open community with the Teco easement, the church property in the back and the open area in the Nottingham Parkway area plus a gate means that we have to maintain our streets when a gate is put in everyone at the meeting felt that a gate would be a lost cause. Still I put it to a vote and not one person felt it would be beneficial for us to have a gate.

Officer LaRosa said that the best thing Mayfair residents could do to insure safety in our community is to call on anything suspicious. No matter how small it seems. He said the police are there to answer our calls. If we can't remember the non-emergency number for the police department just pick up the phone call 911. Persons in the group said they didn't feel comfortable doing that. That's when Officer LaRosa explained that the non-emergency number and the 911 calls all go through the same channels. He explained to us that we would be amazed at what types of calls go through this area. He challenged us to go to the police department area where the 911 and not emergency calls. That way we would see that any call that we might make would be probably not as silly as most of the calls they receive. Several of us have decided to go and see firsthand. Anyone interested should contact me or Karen Rownd. It's on my to do list as soon as school is back in session!

Officer LaRosa said that the crime rate in our area is low however with certain events happening this past week I?’m not to sure about that. From now on I'm asking that everyone in Mayfair report anything to the police department. The more we have reported the more police presence we will receive.

The next Neighborhood Watch meeting is on September 19 at 7 PM. Also, if any if you have ideas on how we can curb some of our most recent problems in crime I'm open to suggestions.