seashell: in response to your genuine concern and participation in what I feel are important issues that need to be discussed for the benefit of AC as opposed to the attitude by some on this board that nothing that reflects poorly about AC should be mentioned or anyone who visits AC and dares to report that there were parts of their vacation that did not live up to their expectations should be verbally attacked, told never to return and to find some place else to vacation. There, I got my "snip" in as you refer to for this reply. I feel better already.

What evoked my responding to this post was the direction that I felt some were going with statements indicating that AC was "safe". I felt that some could read those statements and get an untrue picture of the situation. When tourists are being robbed when walking on the beach, when people have their home broken into while sleeping, robbed and have one of their workers murdered and another stabbed, I do not consider that a "safe" environment.. AC has some serious crime issues that need to be recognized and addressed.

I will again preface my position by saying that I am not involved in making my living off of tourism. But even if I were, I would still take the position that it is better to accurately assess and identify if a problem exists and openly take measures to correct the problem. If I were in the business of attracting tourists to AC, I would much rather have them come knowing of any potential problems and therefor being encouraged to take the prudent and precautionary measures that you and others have suggested. Those are good suggestions.

That leads me to answer you questions as to what I am willing to do to improve the situation. My first effort is to do what I am doing here in bring to attention what I feel is an accurate assessment of how "safe" AC is. Secondly, to not be willing to accept from the officials given the responsibility of controlling crime that the solution is merely for me and others to be more careful when going out at night and to accept the fact that I might be robbed or injured because it happens in other communities. I prefer to take the approach that I expect those officials to do their job and the fact is there are communities where people can walk at night carrying whatever possessions they wish without fear of being robbed and I expect AC and San Pedro to be one of those communities.

Residents of AC have formed neighborhood watch areas, there is a crime committee made up of local residents and business people that meets with police officials to discuss these problems. The private sector is and can do many things to help with the situation. A "crime fighters" approach would be helpful where rewards were given for info leading to arrests and convictions allowing a means for those concerned to donate funds to help.

There are people concerned and working on the problems. There are positive measures being implemented. The bottom line for me is that it is important to focus on the problem and finding the solutions and not take the approach that AC is "safe" enough and all the tourists needs to do is not walk the beaches at night and not carry any valuables with them and enjoy their vacation in utopia. ( my parting snip ).