Budget Hearings
The budget talks sounded pretty bleak with the police department playing a 911 tape and painting such a dreary picture. Sound off on it here...
posted by Sara De la Guerra | 5/09/2006 02:14:00 PM
Our Community Guidelines ask that you use the Blogger/Open ID login or the
more private Name/URL option when making comments. Comments using "Anonymous" will not be published. For more info, see choosing an identity.
11 Comments:
We need Aquaman to save the day.
Reality is catching up with the police employees just like everyone else.
They police union is overplaying their hand and pissing off the Council. This is going to elevate when the Council calls their bluff by offering housing subsidies and mortage guarantees for police employees. Then, those same police staff with the tales of woe will have to admit they want more and bigger ranchette housing than the rest of the people can afford. Recruit from within the City or South Coast.
If Camerino showed up more often to speak to the city council, except when he wants money, the council might be more generous and be able to cut other city services. Police protection would become "redevelopment".
it IS bleak when a public safety agency in a world-class City like Santa Barbara is losing officers at such a frightening pace----time to get real and look at the facts; just like private enterprise, and other professions have had to do around here---the City needs to look at incentives; don't take for granted the kind of protection and service this City has gotten used to.
I turned it off at the PowerPoint and the 12 minute episode. It all sounded to me like blackmail. No one says that the police are not important, but so are others. Like the national government, everything for defense and the military, the police sounded as though there was no thing else. I think teachers and social workers and libraries and parks are fully as important....
Yea 6:52, you're right everyone is important--its just that, well, I don't want a librarian responding when I've just been attacked or my house has been burglarized or my neighborhood is little by little becoming more unsafe----social worker, well, ok, maybe....but the bigger question is---why do people succumb to such illogical and silly comparisons whenever public safety issues are raised?
Anyone interested in witnessing the divisiveness, arrogance and hyperbole Das Williams brings to a public body should watch a replay of the City Council Budget Hearings on Ch 18; witness Das hysterically blurting out comments like "it's a no brainer" when another Councilmember dared have a different perspective than him. Patronizing, condescending comments to harbor residents and commissioners; if he was so worried about balancing the budget, why was he so fervent about the "living wage"? ( Besides the fact that he is a paid living wage advocate.) Like most things Das does this was a calculated stunt...watch him now beat his chest about "balancing the budget".....a little like the tail wagging the dog..........
7.59, such comparisons arise when public safety, more specifically, the police, demand 10% raises and moan about being unable to buy a house here. Not many can buy houses here, including teachers and all those others. Is it so wrong to be a renter? 50% of this city does rent --- but the police are above this or so it sounded as they complained about not being able to buy a house.
Certainly, they should be paid for the work they do; certainly, housing and efforts should be made to retain experienced officers. But those further up the line, those who also deal constructively with the public, also have needs - and do not have the heavy breathing police union demanding a 10% raise on top of their 3% raise last year.
Where exactly is the money coming from?
One person's "divisiveness" is another's deliberation and leadership and advocacy for a majority constituency of City residents. Some of us want the budget balanced. That is worth fighting for.
My first comment here still applies. Not all City employees will ever be able to afford a 7-figure home purchase ranchette. The whole premise of that cynical, threatening show by the police staff was all about that assumption.
Das's show the other night at the harbor hearing combined with his poetry reading on Channel 21 and that bizarre commercial should have rasied more red flags than a May Day parade. Please County voters, take him away.
Fed Up At City Hall
Balanced Budget. Everytime you wait 15 minutes or more for a Police Officer, you are looking at a balanced budget. Everytime you pay a higher fee for a recreation activity, thank yourself for balancing the budget. Everytime you pay more for parking, thank yourself. Everytime you see a City service not being performed because the staff has been cut to the bone you are looking at a balanced budget. When you see Das Williams preening about a balanced budget on TV you are looking at grandstanding. The tough choices and pain were all made and felt by somebody else. Please elect him to supervisor and get him out of my town. Let the 2nd District benefit from his "brilliance", we have had enough.
Fed Up At City Hall
Das's condescending and often downright hostile and demanding treatment of city staff is something that is worth being aware of. Staff can't say too much and nothing publicly and of course we would like to see him taken off our hands but please people it more is a reflection of how inconsiderate he really is to the people doing the hands on work; in case anyone cares to know.
thats all.
When staff start complaining about a City Council member being too demanding, that elected official is doing something right!
Post a Comment
<< Home