Mayor Mark Stodola is calling on Little Rock citizens to contact state legislators to demand action on "career burglars and thieves."
Stodola, speaking during his annual State of the City Address at City Hall, said repeat offenders, many of whom are on parole, are "repeatedly scavenging our neighborhoods and stealing whatever isn't nailed down."
Ninety-two people were arrested in Little Rock in the last six months of 2012 on burglary and automobile break-in charges, Stodola said. More than three-quarters of them were felons and more than 25 percent of them were arrested multiple times in 2012.
"The police can arrest and rearrest, but if they are not confined or properly supervised, the system begins to break down," Stodola said. "What is wrong with the parole system? Why can't parole officers keep better track of these career burglars and thieves? ... All good questions, which need to be addressed to every legislator who is at the state Capitol during this session of the legislature."
Stodola said he is hopeful a bill will pass that will allow authorities to use more electronic monitoring to better track parolees.
He said the city is also taking action by pursuing legislation that would allow better management of problem apartment complexes, including some that have become "havens" for crime. Construction is also set to start on a new police station on 12th Street, a felony reentry program is being developed and more than 30 new officers are expected to begin patrol by the middle of the year.
But, Stodola said, the crime issue needs action from the state level as well.
"Cutting the state budget may sound sexy to some and is apparently in vogue, but when there exists consistent state budget surpluses, it should not be at the expense of our citizens and our neighborhoods who are continually being victimized by these career burglars and thieves," Stodola said.
Stodola also noted during his address that:
- Overall crime was still down in 2012, but by less than 0.7 percent from the previous year.
- Planning is under way for a new fire station in southwest Little Rock.
- The city has hired a bicycle pedestrian coordinator to better mark streets frequented by cyclists.
- A program to implement recycling in apartment complexes is being drafted.
- The city's homeless day resource center is expected to open in April.
The speech is Stodola's sixth State of the City address. He was reelected in 2011. Watch Stodola's speech in its entirety here.