Public Safety and The Budget and Taxes

[Rob Tamboia]

First; My deepest sympathy to Polce Officer Michael Perry and to his
family and friends. He was a good man and a great police officer, and
ironically he had placed a jar at the WPPD locker room, for police
officers to contribute to the "fund" helping the 11 police officers
laid off last month (June, 2010).

Just another thought regarding long-term strategy with public safety:

We all know that White Plains has the highest enforcement of speeders
and moving violations (Journal News statistics), let alone the $20
overnight parking tickets, etc.,

Can someone explain to me how or why it is cost effective to layoff
police officers (or parking enforcement agents) who generate more than
twice the money of their salaries in violations, tickets and
summonses. In essence the WPPD is a major revenue source (generator)
for the general fund and "court fees" as well.

Even though I occasionally get a parking ticket, the people who are
getting parking and speeding tickets (and even library fines and
garbage fines, etc) are adding revenue to the general budget, the same
as a PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes), city property tax, hotel tax,
city sales tax, taxicab permits, and all the parking meters and
"permits".

Where is the seized drug money and drug vehicles going nowadays?

Could we create new "revenue incubators" (think of the city-owned
building in Renaiaance Park that is leased to Starbucks with the
profits deeded to open-space acquisition), perhaps a cafe in another
park, or a copy shop in a corner of a parking garage or a bike rental
shop at a unused city right-of-way?

I am a big supporter of the professional, citizen-oriented "community
policeing program": in White Plains. I really hope that program
continues.

Possibly programs such as "Crime Prevention" and "Fire Prevention",
etc. (or routine policing and fire fesponse) can be sponsored, just as
the i-287 "Texaco Samaritan Vans" which were paid for by Texaco back
in the 1990's; then the state paid for it; and now its back as the
"State Farm HELP Trucks" Would a hotel or a mall want to sponsor a
fire crew and/or a truck to help keep downtown W.P. safe, clean and
inviting? Think of Truck #100, sponsered by The Galleria (100 Main
Street, get it?)....

Could the new 3% hotel tax be extended to "rooming houses", "attic
apartments", and such? Any apartment with less than a 1 year lease.
Better yet, could the city have a minimum fine of $ 5,000 per second
and third (etc.) violation for persistant offenders in owning and
leasing unsafe/ overcrowded housing? Perhaps 1 such fine a month
could be enough to pay for one firefighters [or police officers]
paycheck.

Hopefully if the US Census got a good (correct) head count, we will
receive more money from the state and the federal governments for drug-
prevention, gang-prevention, fire-prevention and other needed public
safety programs.

What do you think could work?

Rob Tamboia