On a cool overcast day, Governor Simon addresses members of the media and the community in front of a recently remodeled building in the Dragon's Gate district. The speech opportunity is a welcome, albeit momentary, respite from campaigning for the Governor, who seems genuinely enthused as he speaks.
Good afternoon, everyone. It was my hope to be standing before you long before now, but the Sanyumato storm caused several unforeseen setbacks in our timeline. However, those challenges have been overcome with a great deal of effort and hard work and I stand before you today very pleased and proud to present to you the next step in my efforts to improve the beauty, functionality, and sense of community within our city.
During the current election campaign, I've been criticized for not running on a platform of new astounding ideas. I have countered by saying I prefer to stay the course, to continue the successes and progress we've made in the last two years. What I'm about to present to you is another step along that path. You can look upon it as a new idea or as a continuation, another building block upon the foundation of the last two years. Whichever way you consider it, it's my hope and belief you are as pleased with the end result as I am " that you, as individuals, families, and communities, reap the benefits of a, dare I say it, new way of doing things.
As you can see, this building behind me has long served as the chief Watch station for the Dragon's Gate District. Some have argued, in both the late and recent past, that while the men and women of the Watch are here to protect and guard this city and all of you, the institution could do a much better job at integrating into the community as a whole. The men and women of the watch are not specters, not "passing shadows" as Sheridan Driscol describes them; they are well-established in our communities and many of us see them at work, on patrol, daily. Still, despite being and working within our districts and neighborhoods, not everyone considers the Watch as part of their overall communities. We've begun to make inroads into changing that perspective and this building behind me is just one part of my plan to make the Watch not only more accessible, available, and most importantly approachable to the average citizen, but to re-establish the Watch as a vital part of the community, not simply a presence that looms within it.
Specifically, Watch headquarters and precinct stations throughout the city's districts have been described as foreboding, unfriendly, and imposing. Many of these stations lack windows, have no access to natural light, and have no obvious entrances. Some, in fact, have described these buildings as fortresses and indeed, inside and out, they certainly do little to decry such a label. These stations, some built decades ago, were consructed with the Watch, not the community, in mind. The original architecture, with limited entryways and a defensive fa"ade, helped ensure the safety of the Watch personnel inside and decreased the need to protect and patrol directly around these stations. The buildings, at least in part, were able to protect themselves. However, I believe this arrangement has done a great disservice to the Watch and community both. This setup sent a message to citizens that the Watch considered them, and the community surrounding these stations, as fundamentally dangerous. Perhaps, in the past, such feelings were true. However, those sentiments are not reflective of a belief that I share or ones that make sense today.
What you see behind me is a large step toward changing that fortress mentality, that community-separatist mindset. This is one of several stations and precincts, throughout the city, that have undergone an incredible transformation thanks to a great deal of work and input by both members of the Watch and community leaders. It's my belief that Watch personnel should not feel defensive in the midst of the community, nor should the community feel suspicious, distrustful, or afraid of the Watch. This new station, with a design that is being implemented throughout the city's districts, will not only improve the overall efficiency of the Watch, it will foster a closer relationship between the Watch and Rhydin's citizens. From the inception of this plan, as I mentioned previously, these stations were designed not only with community participation and feedback, but with input from the men and women of the Watch as well. We listened to criticisms and accolades alike, we evaluated the relationship between the Watch and Rhydin's citizens, we encouraged and received open and active participation from everyone involved. In the end, this cooperation enabled us to exceed my initial expectations for this project, showing once again how an idea, with a firm strategy and effective implementation, leads us all to success and improves the city as a whole.
From the moment you approach these new stations, you'll notice a fundamental shift in their disposition. From outlying architecture to internal layout, these stations are more efficient, better equipped, and much more community-oriented than their predecessors. Gone is the fortress-like aura, the ominous and menacing veneer. Building facades have been constructed to match the overall neighborhood architecture; distinct enough to stand out as Watch stations but similar enough to still fit in with the style of the surrounding community. They're designed, from the inside out, to establish a sense of friendliness and trust. These stations have community rooms, large and airy lobbies, and several have small plazas or grassy-picnic areas attached where citizens can eat, relax and where children can safely play. The community rooms are available for public meetings or gatherings, for a traveler's momentary respite, or simply as a place to retreat and unwind. Along these rooms, you'll find doors leading to an outdoor patio with tables where gatherings can extend into the open air.
Keep in mind, though, these new buildings still primarily serve the community and our city as centers of security and crime prevention. Their overall purpose " to house criminals and serve as a command centers for crime deterrent, has not changed. Within these stations there are still detention areas which have been modernized and upgraded for better overall security. Safety and security features within the stations have been improved. Technology was also upgraded, including data-collection mechanisms, real-time reporting, and inter and intra-station communication relays. These improvements will not only enhance Rhydin's overall security, they will make the individual member of the Watch more effective and efficient. These advancements and upgrades in equipment and functionality, combined with the opportunity for increased contact and interaction with the community, will improve the morale of the Watch officers and increase the confidence in the general populace that the Watch does indeed look out for their best interests and their safety, and does so from within and as part of the community itself, not from afar or from some estranged position.
Now, let me also say that no design is perfect. Indeed, some have critiqued this new arrangement, saying that the open spaces detract from building security and the safety of the Watch members inside. Some have argued against allowing increased access, on the part of general citizens, to these stations. While I can understand the basis for those arguments, I believe that the Watch and the community " indeed, each one of us " are better served with this new layout. The intent of these new stations, one I believe we've been successful in achieving, is to establish as safe and secure a location as possible without alienating the at-large community. These new stations, without appearing as stalwart unapproachable citadels, are much more efficient and community-oriented than the ones they're replacing.
The balance between presenting the Watch as too soft or affable, as opposed to unapproachable enforcer, is extremely delicate. We need and want the Watch to perform their duties even more efficiently than before while still fostering and nurturing communal relationships. I believe these new stations serve both purposes, which you'll all see for yourselves in a few moments when we take a tour of this particular precinct. When people come to a station lobby, they often do so as the recent victim of a crime, or as someone lost, scared or confused, and the last thing they need to encounter is a militaristic, cold and unfriendly locale. The new station lobbies and entryways are designed to bring a sense of calm and peace to those who enter, to make them feel safe and secure and welcome. Colors, fabrics, d"cor " all of these were taken into consideration in creating as much of a welcoming, yet practical, environment as possible. But as you enter the non-public areas, you'll find that the day-to-day functional, restricted portions of these stations are much more sterile and business-like, but still designed with an openness that is not stifling or restrictive to Watch personnel or citizens who are there to provide information, eyewitness accounts, or information about a crime. At its core, the Watch's purpose is public safety and crime prevention; these new buildings do not change that in the slightest. On the contrary, these new buildings will make the Watch's job easier, especially as these structures help the members of the Watch better join together with, and become a firmer part of, the communities and people they've sworn to protect.
I invite you all to join me now on a tour of this station, so you can experiences for yourselves the realities and benefits of these improvements.
Members of the media and the community are then taken on a tour, led by Governor Simon and Captain James Culridge, a member of the Watch and the Dragon's Gate Community Liaison, of the new Dragon's Gate District Headquarters station.
*Inspiration for and many of the ideas in this post were taken from a DNA (Design And Architecture) November 17th, 2009 radio broadcast on 89.9 KCRW: "Welcoming Police Stations; A Sustainable Supersize House?. For those interested, and for the interests of full disclosure, that link will lead you to a page on kcrw.com where you can listen to the piece in its entirety.
Good afternoon, everyone. It was my hope to be standing before you long before now, but the Sanyumato storm caused several unforeseen setbacks in our timeline. However, those challenges have been overcome with a great deal of effort and hard work and I stand before you today very pleased and proud to present to you the next step in my efforts to improve the beauty, functionality, and sense of community within our city.
During the current election campaign, I've been criticized for not running on a platform of new astounding ideas. I have countered by saying I prefer to stay the course, to continue the successes and progress we've made in the last two years. What I'm about to present to you is another step along that path. You can look upon it as a new idea or as a continuation, another building block upon the foundation of the last two years. Whichever way you consider it, it's my hope and belief you are as pleased with the end result as I am " that you, as individuals, families, and communities, reap the benefits of a, dare I say it, new way of doing things.
As you can see, this building behind me has long served as the chief Watch station for the Dragon's Gate District. Some have argued, in both the late and recent past, that while the men and women of the Watch are here to protect and guard this city and all of you, the institution could do a much better job at integrating into the community as a whole. The men and women of the watch are not specters, not "passing shadows" as Sheridan Driscol describes them; they are well-established in our communities and many of us see them at work, on patrol, daily. Still, despite being and working within our districts and neighborhoods, not everyone considers the Watch as part of their overall communities. We've begun to make inroads into changing that perspective and this building behind me is just one part of my plan to make the Watch not only more accessible, available, and most importantly approachable to the average citizen, but to re-establish the Watch as a vital part of the community, not simply a presence that looms within it.
Specifically, Watch headquarters and precinct stations throughout the city's districts have been described as foreboding, unfriendly, and imposing. Many of these stations lack windows, have no access to natural light, and have no obvious entrances. Some, in fact, have described these buildings as fortresses and indeed, inside and out, they certainly do little to decry such a label. These stations, some built decades ago, were consructed with the Watch, not the community, in mind. The original architecture, with limited entryways and a defensive fa"ade, helped ensure the safety of the Watch personnel inside and decreased the need to protect and patrol directly around these stations. The buildings, at least in part, were able to protect themselves. However, I believe this arrangement has done a great disservice to the Watch and community both. This setup sent a message to citizens that the Watch considered them, and the community surrounding these stations, as fundamentally dangerous. Perhaps, in the past, such feelings were true. However, those sentiments are not reflective of a belief that I share or ones that make sense today.
What you see behind me is a large step toward changing that fortress mentality, that community-separatist mindset. This is one of several stations and precincts, throughout the city, that have undergone an incredible transformation thanks to a great deal of work and input by both members of the Watch and community leaders. It's my belief that Watch personnel should not feel defensive in the midst of the community, nor should the community feel suspicious, distrustful, or afraid of the Watch. This new station, with a design that is being implemented throughout the city's districts, will not only improve the overall efficiency of the Watch, it will foster a closer relationship between the Watch and Rhydin's citizens. From the inception of this plan, as I mentioned previously, these stations were designed not only with community participation and feedback, but with input from the men and women of the Watch as well. We listened to criticisms and accolades alike, we evaluated the relationship between the Watch and Rhydin's citizens, we encouraged and received open and active participation from everyone involved. In the end, this cooperation enabled us to exceed my initial expectations for this project, showing once again how an idea, with a firm strategy and effective implementation, leads us all to success and improves the city as a whole.
From the moment you approach these new stations, you'll notice a fundamental shift in their disposition. From outlying architecture to internal layout, these stations are more efficient, better equipped, and much more community-oriented than their predecessors. Gone is the fortress-like aura, the ominous and menacing veneer. Building facades have been constructed to match the overall neighborhood architecture; distinct enough to stand out as Watch stations but similar enough to still fit in with the style of the surrounding community. They're designed, from the inside out, to establish a sense of friendliness and trust. These stations have community rooms, large and airy lobbies, and several have small plazas or grassy-picnic areas attached where citizens can eat, relax and where children can safely play. The community rooms are available for public meetings or gatherings, for a traveler's momentary respite, or simply as a place to retreat and unwind. Along these rooms, you'll find doors leading to an outdoor patio with tables where gatherings can extend into the open air.
Keep in mind, though, these new buildings still primarily serve the community and our city as centers of security and crime prevention. Their overall purpose " to house criminals and serve as a command centers for crime deterrent, has not changed. Within these stations there are still detention areas which have been modernized and upgraded for better overall security. Safety and security features within the stations have been improved. Technology was also upgraded, including data-collection mechanisms, real-time reporting, and inter and intra-station communication relays. These improvements will not only enhance Rhydin's overall security, they will make the individual member of the Watch more effective and efficient. These advancements and upgrades in equipment and functionality, combined with the opportunity for increased contact and interaction with the community, will improve the morale of the Watch officers and increase the confidence in the general populace that the Watch does indeed look out for their best interests and their safety, and does so from within and as part of the community itself, not from afar or from some estranged position.
Now, let me also say that no design is perfect. Indeed, some have critiqued this new arrangement, saying that the open spaces detract from building security and the safety of the Watch members inside. Some have argued against allowing increased access, on the part of general citizens, to these stations. While I can understand the basis for those arguments, I believe that the Watch and the community " indeed, each one of us " are better served with this new layout. The intent of these new stations, one I believe we've been successful in achieving, is to establish as safe and secure a location as possible without alienating the at-large community. These new stations, without appearing as stalwart unapproachable citadels, are much more efficient and community-oriented than the ones they're replacing.
The balance between presenting the Watch as too soft or affable, as opposed to unapproachable enforcer, is extremely delicate. We need and want the Watch to perform their duties even more efficiently than before while still fostering and nurturing communal relationships. I believe these new stations serve both purposes, which you'll all see for yourselves in a few moments when we take a tour of this particular precinct. When people come to a station lobby, they often do so as the recent victim of a crime, or as someone lost, scared or confused, and the last thing they need to encounter is a militaristic, cold and unfriendly locale. The new station lobbies and entryways are designed to bring a sense of calm and peace to those who enter, to make them feel safe and secure and welcome. Colors, fabrics, d"cor " all of these were taken into consideration in creating as much of a welcoming, yet practical, environment as possible. But as you enter the non-public areas, you'll find that the day-to-day functional, restricted portions of these stations are much more sterile and business-like, but still designed with an openness that is not stifling or restrictive to Watch personnel or citizens who are there to provide information, eyewitness accounts, or information about a crime. At its core, the Watch's purpose is public safety and crime prevention; these new buildings do not change that in the slightest. On the contrary, these new buildings will make the Watch's job easier, especially as these structures help the members of the Watch better join together with, and become a firmer part of, the communities and people they've sworn to protect.
I invite you all to join me now on a tour of this station, so you can experiences for yourselves the realities and benefits of these improvements.
Members of the media and the community are then taken on a tour, led by Governor Simon and Captain James Culridge, a member of the Watch and the Dragon's Gate Community Liaison, of the new Dragon's Gate District Headquarters station.
*Inspiration for and many of the ideas in this post were taken from a DNA (Design And Architecture) November 17th, 2009 radio broadcast on 89.9 KCRW: "Welcoming Police Stations; A Sustainable Supersize House?. For those interested, and for the interests of full disclosure, that link will lead you to a page on kcrw.com where you can listen to the piece in its entirety.