MAP OF MALLOWS PARK, CLAREMONT VILLAGE 
We received this email in from a reader concerned that the recent rash of Girl Scout related crime - we're not sure if that means crimes by Girl Scouts or crimes against Girl Scouts - has diminished the Claremont Police Department's ability to respond to other types of crime:
Hi Claremont Insider,
First, I have to tell you: I'm a huge fan of your blog. I love it and recommend it to all my friends. It's great fun to read and it often tips me off to things around town that interest me (I attended the Kimya Dawson concert at Rhino because I heard about it on your site - thanks!)
So yes, huge fan.
I'm writing you today for your help - my close friend lives on Sixth Street and Indian Hill in a house that backs up against Mallows Park. In the past few months he's noticed people dealing drugs in the park and lines of men going into the bathroom at night for extended periods of time. Several houses in the area have been broken into and items stolen and then, this week, his neighbor found a sawed-off shotgun in the bushes at the park.
This threat seems to be a much higher priority for Claremont than Girl Scouts.
I don't even know why there are bathrooms at that park, much less why they're open at night. It's a very small park with a tennis court. No one needs a bathroom there. The city should close the bathrooms and patrol the park more often. Unless, of course, the Girl Scouts are becoming a menace again.
Could you mention this in your blog? The police told my friend that more people have to call and complain for something to be done.
cheers!
Well, dear reader, we certainly hope the city and the CPD will take these problems seriously. Our new mayor, Ellen Taylor, is a bit preoccupied with other things to be too concerned about the park problems you cited. We noticed crime didn't make her ambitious To-Do list when she took office.
We suppose you'll just have to take a number and get in line behind her other more pressing issues, as listed on the City's website:
Mayor Taylor has several goals that she would like to see the City Council accomplish during her tenure as mayor, including finding more locations for affordable housing complexes; an ordinance on "mansionization;" finding funding and a new location for the police station; adding more lighted sports fields; repairing and enlarging senior centers; acquiring more hillside land; solving the Village parking problem; continuing to work on economic development programs; redeveloping the Peppertree Square shopping center; and, attracting a food market for south Claremont.
Rest assured, though, Queen Ellen is well aware of the problem - besides being infallible, she is omniscient, after all. She just has other, more important things to attend to for the next year or so.
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