SLO Farmers Market needs dedicated security presence

Is the downtown San Luis Obispo Farmers Market safe?

Although two bicycle officers and a sergeant are assigned to the downtown area (which includes the Farmers Market), there is no visible security presence dedicated specifically to the Farmers Market itself. Neither does the Downtown Association provide security guards.

Since the Sept., 11, 2001, attacks in New York, there have been additional terrorist attacks in the U.S., including recent attacks in San Bernardino and Orlando that left 63 dead and about 70 wounded. This July’s truck-ramming attack in Nice, France — more than 80 dead, 300 injured — took place on a crowded promenade eerily similar to our own Farmers Market venue.

Contact the SLO City Council and tell them you want a dedicated and visible security presence at the downtown Farmers Market. This will keep us and our children safe.

This story was originally published September 14, 2016 at 7:55 PM with the headline "SLO Farmers Market needs dedicated security presence."