More Public Safety Double Speak From City Officials
While perusing my local newspaper box this afternoon I learned that Morgan Hill is, once again, considering combining emergency services with Gilroy in order to save both cash-strapped cities some of their hard-stolen money. While this is good news in general (combined emergency services means smaller government after all) the article still managed to piss me off. Check out the following statement-
For the last couple of years city hall staff have been evaluating different ways to improve these services and lower costs at the same time, according to City Manager Ed Tewes. He said the primary goal is to improve services.
“If saving money is the only goal, there are ways to save money,” said Tewes. “(But) we have learned there are always tradeoffs between the levels of service provided, and savings in costs.”
Excuse me? They’ve spent the last couple of years trying to “lower costs“? Then please explain their fervor in trying to push the Measure G Utiility Tax down our throats last November. Near the end of the article I found this gem-
[Morgan Hill Police Chief Bruce] Cumming has suggested eliminating three positions in the police department over the next three years to make up for some of the deficit.
This would be the same Chief Cumming who not only hired five additional Morgan Hill Police Officers (and a dog)back in August, but was in everyone’s face, hat in hand, trying to get Measure G passed because we still didn’t have enough officers. It seems like I (and the Morgan Hill voters who rejected the extra funding) were right after all. The police department has plenty of other options for decreasing spending and have no need for even more of our tax dollars. The desire for it was greed plain and simple.
If you disagree (or agree, of course) I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!
Tags: cops, emergency, Gilroy, Measure G, Morgan Hill, Morgan Hill Police, News, police, public safety, safety, savings, Services, vote
