Lehigh County Commissioner Bill Leiner posted his own take on last week's decision by Lehigh County's Republican commissioners to refuse to fund, at least for now, Don Cunningham's community policing program. I thought I'd share his comments.It is remarkable that this rolled off as a party line vote. Republicans against; Democrats in favor. The funds are there, the need is clearly there, the Chiefs who know the value of community policing were there, the DA strongly agrees ..... the arguments against the proposal - no money, budgetary future fears, not happy with the Bill's procedures, "I see plenty of cops when I drive through Bethlehem", "pork prices are down", we need more information, this is not a core county responsibility - are unthreaded and thin at best. If you had to take the Republican arguments as your debate positions in a school debate, the event would be over in about 15 minutes. I believe at the end of the day we nine thoughtful individuals will get the information we need to satisfy all 9 and then coalesce and take this bold step forward to fund the Safe Streets Initiative. Someone once said (and, Bernie it was not my friend Sterling) that passing legislation is a lot like making sausage. It is messy. The challenge is to preserve decorum, collegiality as we all drift to the correct decision of funding the initiative.
Tomorrow, I'll share Dean Browning's budgetary concerns.
3 comments:
So, according to Lefty, feel good Leiner, spending $1 million dollars on Community Policing is the best use of limited County Tax dollars to deter crime? Compared to what?
Compared to hiring more detectives to break up drug rings or gangs? I don't think so.
Compared to reducing the revolving door of 64% recidivism rate through better intervention programs? I don't think so.
Of course many government workers are going to be in favor of a million dollar hand-out, who wouldn't be? But is it the most effective use of tax payers money? No it isn't.
Just ask Allentown Mayor Pawlowski or his chief of police, (the biggest benefactors of such a hand-out)whether it is the best use of a million dollars.
They will tell you it would be a drop in the bucket, and would be money better spent elsewhere.
If they thought this was as good as it's being advertised, they probably would have attended the recent County meeting, but they didn't. That should tell you something.
Window dressing and hype will not solve our crime problems. Feel good Public Relations gimmicks to get someone elected governor will not solve our crime problem.
Spending a million dollars on 7 new, inexperienced police officers riding bicycles on hamilton street will not solve our crime problem.
Using experienced, no nonsense, hard-nosed professional investigators behind the scenes, without any fanfare will.
Forget this looney left, kum-by-ah, feel good crap.
If they thought this was as good as it's being advertised, they probably would have attended the recent County meeting, but they didn't. That should tell you something.
Fifteen police chiefs were there. So was the first addistant DA. The DA forwarded a letter w/ his unqualified support.
The conmcept of community policing is proactive - it stops the crime before it happens, which actually reduces the financila drain on the county. The programs you mention are reactive.
I think Leiner and Browning both make good points.
I can't believe I agree with Bernie. This Anon poster has no clue about the realities of community policing. Community policing works. How about you go and read some studies on it. You are the one who is looney and completely full of crap.
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