Neary-Sighted

You will see from several posts below that I and many other people in the community were concerned that a draft budget for 2008 excludes large sections of Lakewood from our community policing program.

The good news at tonight's budget hearing is that the staff who wrote the original budget draft have found suggestions to pay for community policing. They found ways to afford policing in both Tillicum and American Lake Gardens, AND in the Lakes District (the large area that includes Lake City and the neighborhoods around and between Lake Louise and Steilacoom Lake). I'm very grateful that the staff suggested the plan, and the council did not have to plow into and through the budget to find the money from among the various line items.

Of course, the next question is whether we can get at least four of seven votes to approve community policing. I continue to encourage anyone who cares about police protection to plan to come to our budget hearing on the evening of Monday, Nov. 5, to say what they think. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Monday in City Hall. The actual hearing will begin later than that. The budget hearing will take place after a half-hour ceremony to honor veterans and some other city business.

Here are some details about the latest proposal: Prompted by a couple of us a week ago staff came up with a plan to restore community policing in Tillicum and American Lake Gardens. The plan called for reducing police overtime by $100,000 (presumably in part by having more officers on staff) and doing jail arraignments in the City Hall courthouse instead of downtown. These savings would produce enough money to keep a community service officer in Tillicum and American Lake Gardens on Jan 1, with a neighborhood police officer joining the team mid-year.

But that still leaves the Lakes District without community policing. So tonight, staff came up with another plan – a proposal that would also restore and improve community policing to the Lakes District. The city manager tonight proposed reducing the merit/cost of living system by enough to pay for that policing team. That involves sacrifice on their part, for the betterment of public safety in the Lakes District.

It’s outstanding that the city manager came up with this plan, because I was planning to find the money one way or another. The alternative was Walter prowling through a city budget that is about three inches of paper tall to try to find the money to do this.

However, this is where I remind you that I am only one of seven votes. Not all council members want to extend community policing throughout the city. In fact, only two other council members, Helen McGovern and Doug Richardson, said they supported community policing (and bear in mind this was not an official vote). Some council members from Lakewood CARES suggested looking at cutting the budget by hundreds of thousands of dollars ... though they did not specify where. I’m not a believer, but hey, maybe Lakewood residents do want fewer services and will show up Monday to say that. The citizens who want to cut services will have to make a compelling argument to get past my mental front door.

But that's another subject... if you think Lakewood needs community police, feel very free to speak out. Your comments might make the difference in saving the program in all neighborhoods. And on the other hand, if you have a city program that you want cut, I know the Lakewood CARES folks would especially love to hear from you ... though I will be intrigued by your comments as well. You can send us a letter, or you can show up Nov. 5. Either way you communicate, I hope and pray your voices are heard by others.
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