CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Charleston Mayor Danny Jones has had enough of the recent crime trend allegedly involving those from out of state.
“I lived in the Holley Hotel for four years. I know what it’s like to be down and out,” Jones told the Charleston City Council during its Monday meeting, referencing his four years renting a space in the now-demolished downtown establishment. “But this is different, and these people are coming from all over the country.”
Jones told council he wants to see the city’s user fee increase before the scheduled 2020 change. The city’s current fee, $2.50, was last increased in 2015.
The fee raise would help the city pay at least 10 more police officers and open its Slack Plaza station for K-9 and walking units.
“I’m asking you all to move that forward to where we can pass that in the next few council sessions and have that kick in at the beginning of the year,” Jones said in a 12-minute speech.
The mayor’s comments come after recent crimes allegedly involving individuals from outside the Charleston area, including Carl Magee III, of California, who allegedly set Rachel Jarrett, of Charleston, on fire on July 23 while she was sleeping on the porch of a West Side home.
Yet Charleston Police Chief Brent Webster said most of the messages he receives is about property crime, which he said has “skyrocketed.” Jones also acknowledged during his speech most of the crime is non-violent.
“I think when the numbers come out next January, violent crime is going to be pretty far down,” Webster said. “You look at the nuisance crime and the drug epidemic, then I think that is what the mayor is trying to get at.”
The mayor also announced he plans to talk to churches and other organizations about free meals provided to the homeless population.
“We need to develop a strategy to where they know what they are doing,” Jones said. “If they really want to help them and really want to feed them, then let them drink in there. Bring them in there. Let them drink in there, not out here. Let them use your bathroom, not our streets. Because that’s what we’re dealing with and it’s the worst I’ve ever seen it.”
Webster said there needs to be a “middle ground” on providing services to people given the situation.
“When we debrief folks, we often ask them how they got to Charleston,” he said. “They’ll tell us they Google services, and Charleston comes to the top of the list.”
Jones told the chamber Councilman Ed Talkington would sponsor the measure.
Jones is the host of “580 Live,” a weekday program on MetroNews affiliate, WCHS-AM.