Thank you for your recent article on the Des Moines levy lid lift. This levy is specifically to restore police positions that were eliminated during the city’s belt-tightening over the last six years.

While many of us enjoy relative security in our homes and neighborhoods and may have reached the point of complacency, we must realize that the crime rate has indeed increased in Des Moines since 2000, and we are tangibly affected by it. Businesses and property owners that could potentially re-locate here find the increase in these numbers discouraging and look elsewhere.

The time it takes the police to respond to your call has increased due to the lack of policemen on the street. And regrettably, there are not enough police to patrol school areas during the afternoon.

Please join me in voting Yes for safety on May 16. We need our police force at full strength.

Mysty Beal

Des Moines