IRB Police Reduction
Would Crabby Bill’s decide to quit serving seafood? Would T.J.’s change their menu to Ethiopian food? Would Indian Rocks Beach, aka “The World’s Safest Beach,” cut their police protection?
Would Crabby Bill’s decide to quit serving seafood? Would T.J.’s change their menu to Ethiopian food? Would Indian Rocks Beach, aka “The World’s Safest Beach,” cut their police protection?
That was, in fact, the consensus of your City Commission at a Budget Workshop on August 21st. Three levels of police service were proposed. Commissioners Valery, Kennedy and Wollin favored the most drastic reduction. Only Mayor Johnson and Commissioner Torres went for the modestly reduced plan. NO COMMISSIONER chose to keep our police protection as is. (By contrast, the budget for the library sailed through with nary a question. Near the end of the meeting, Commissioner Wollin did ask what would happen if the librarian’s hours were reduced, however, none of her colleagues chimed in and no consensus resulted.)
Well-placed letters, phone calls and e-mails go a long way in making your feelings known about the proposed reduction of police protection in IRB. Safety is not an item that should be “bargained” away in order to keep other, less essential, items in the budget. Your voice in support of our cops is sorely needed at this time. Even if you never speak up about issues in town, we hope you’ll make an exception for this most important one and support the men and women who put their lives on the line every day so that we can continue being “The Safest Beach” in the world.
Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB
Well-placed letters, phone calls and e-mails go a long way in making your feelings known about the proposed reduction of police protection in IRB. Safety is not an item that should be “bargained” away in order to keep other, less essential, items in the budget. Your voice in support of our cops is sorely needed at this time. Even if you never speak up about issues in town, we hope you’ll make an exception for this most important one and support the men and women who put their lives on the line every day so that we can continue being “The Safest Beach” in the world.
Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB
5 comments:
Who will keep our books safe?
This is a Friggin Joke! This commission needs to pull "Getting Along" heads out of their butts and listen to the citizens of this town. We enjoy feeling safe and you cannot put a price on that. I am willing to bet that if the cops vs library were put to a vote the majority would vote for NO LIBRARY! V/W & K, need to remember who they represent and I am deeply sadned that RB and DT voted for the reduction as well.
My, my, is the Commission going to cut travel and converences for themselves and staff, probably not. Is the Commission going to reduce their pay during this time of crisis, probably not. Is the Commission going to bring employee benefits into line with what other cities and county offer, probably not. Is this Commission going to defer, delay and stop projects such as: buying land outside the city; planning for high density development to satisfy their a2k cronies; planning for a new library or library expansion; creating new advisory boards that they can appoint their friends too to assure they get the advice they want to hear; probably not. Is this Commission going to stop hiring consultants, probably not.
Is this Commission going to cut the Little League, cops, maintenance, probably.
Too bad, so sad.
Once again we have elected officials whom seem to forget that the first and most important job they have is to protect the citizens that they serve.If I'm ever in need of help, I hope the new librarian will be there to protect me!
That is so unbelievable!!!
There is never ending nonsense with the officials in this town. Now they are willing to compromise our safety - even after the big hoopla of NO-O's from the residents the last time it was brought up. First the large increase in funding needing
now this. Maybe IRB isn't a good place for me and my family to live after all!
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