THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 14, 1994 TAG: 9407120158
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: In The Neighborhoods
SOURCE: Mike Knepler
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
``Although the memories have certainly been great,
``A safe environment for our staff and agents it ain't.''
With that bit of poetry, insurance agent Bruce Frieden notified clients that his business was leaving Norfolk.
The Frieden agency, with 40 employees, has gone to Virginia Beach.
That's after operating in Norfolk since 1928, including 26 years at 4100 Granby St. The agency is affiliated with the John Hancock Mutual Insurance Co.
Sure, crime wasn't the only factor. Most employees already lived in Virginia Beach.
But crime was a ``primary reason,'' Frieden said.
In recent years, the company employed a security guard for Monday nights when staff often worked late.
On two occasions, Frieden walked into the office on weekends, only to surprise some burglars.
Thieves broke into cars of employees.
By April, the company had enough.
Last week, Frieden's story reached the Planning Commission.
Usually, you wouldn't associate city planning with issues of crime.
But lately, the commission has been mulling ways to revitalize Norfolk's commercial zones.
Safety, said chairman Bill Craig, should be an important ingredient.
The commissioners weren't huffing hot air as public officials often do with crime. These guys talked about how crime affected them.
Over a recent span of three weeks, Commissioner Ewin Ottinger lost three sets of windshield decals to thieves. City stickers were taken from delivery trucks at Ottinger's plumbing supply business.
Besides paying for new decals, Ottinger lost use of his trucks until new city stickers were obtained.
Now, Ottinger is talking about another expense: installing an elaborate security monitoring system.
Commissioners Raymond Dean and Anthony Paige commiserated. The two are ministers and each reported that thieves had taken city stickers from vehicles parked at their churches.
``We're thinking of putting in a caged fence,'' Dean said.
Commissioners noted that crime - perceived or real, minor or major - contributes to an image of Norfolk as not being safe.
``The truth of the matter is that it's a problem not only for the business community but our people are living in fear,'' Paige said. ``This is real serious. Most people do not feel comfortable sitting on their porches after dark. That's not the way a great city should be.''
Barbara Zoby, who reported the Frieden relocation, said, ``Maybe it's perception. Maybe it's not any worse here than it is in other cities. But perception is everything.''
``It's not bad until you're the one who's shot,'' Bob Layton added.
Paige asked that Police Chief Melvin High brief the commission on crime and plans to address it.
Later, Assistant City Manager George Crawley said he would arrange a briefing but will wait for specific suggestions from the planners.
As for businesses like Frieden's that leave because of fear of crime, Crawley said:
``We do regret losing any business. We're working hard with situations as they exist as people perceive them. There's work to be done, and we need all the help we can get.'' MEMO: Comment or suggestion for Mike Knepler. Please call 446-2275 or write:
The Compass, P.O. Box 449, Norfolk, Va. 23501.
by CNB