I am writing in response to the July 26 article "Police closure debated." Councilman Mitch Ufner wants to cut costs by closing our police department from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. This is lunacy.

My family and I live in the Island neighborhood. We witness criminal activity daily, mostly drug dealing. We have called the city police several times asking for help; it is happening right outside our home. We are told that they will try to send someone, but help never comes.

The police are not to blame for this. The city council has not yet decided to replace three police officers who vacated their positions.

The police have suggested taking pictures and writing down license plate numbers. What good will that do?

Let us take care of our own neighborhoods; many of us property owners on the Island would be willing to patrol our streets with arms.

It occurs to me that Ufner should concentrate on repairing our streets, rather than foolish ideas such as this one. The street I live on has deteriorated into virtually a dirt path, which, by the way, the drug buyers use frequently at high rates of speed, throwing dirt and stones over our vehicles and our house.

I have spotted Ufner dining at a nearby restaurant on occasion, and I would suggest to him that if his idea were to be approved, he will want to dine prior to 4:30 p.m. in the future.

Why not save money by doing away with some of our politicians, thereby eliminating their pay.