BAAA Crime Prevention

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In mid-May, a security guard was fatally shot on an apartment property in south St. Petersburg.  City Councilman Steve Kornell met with BAAA representatives to discuss ways to assure the safety of his constituents - apartment residents and their neighbors in single-family homes.  Initially, he proposed ordinances that would mandate two security guards on apartment properties and criminal background checks.

Apartment community crime is nothing new in south St. Petersburg and Councilman Kornell is being responsive to neighborhood association leaders.  In 2005, the President of the Greater Pinellas Point Civic Association was quoted on the subject in a St. Petersburg Times article - "Those rental complexes tend to be problem areas, lower economic residents, a lot of kids, and a lot of kids that are into trouble.  And that’s where a lot of this comes from."  These comments do not reflect Mr. Kornell’s perspective on the issue.  In fact, he has been very generous in making sure that BAAA and the apartment industry have a "seat at the table".

On September 22 at a special St. Petersburg City Council workshop, Councilman Kornell withdrew the security guard and criminal background check mandates.  Police Chief Chuck Harmon addressed Council and promised to work with the apartment industry to deal with the crime activity in south St. Petersburg.  Several Council members expressed their desire to have BAAA involved in the search for solutions.  They also said any programs should be voluntary and focused on the south side of town.

Jeff Rogo, BAAA Government Affairs Director, and St. Petersburg Crime Prevention Officer Chip Wells are planning to get together with apartment community managers in mid-November.  They are gathering ideas from the national Crime-Free Multi-Housing program, the Houston Apartment Association’s Blue Star program, apartment community crime watch programs, and from Officer Wells’ lengthy experience in St. Petersburg.