Neighborhood Roundtable: Public Safety Budget (Seattle Forward)

May 24, 2011

Neighborhood Roundtable: Public Safety Budget

Councilmembers Godden, O'Brien and I went over to West Seattle last night for a neighborhood roundtable discussion of the City's public safety budget. West Seattle Blog provided some coverage here. (The above photo is from West Seattle Blog.)

It was one of our better budget discussions because citizens had the chance to ask questions, share their opinions, and dialog with one another and the Council members present. I found it far better than the usual two-minute soundbites we allow for public comment at our meetings.

Here is a quick list of citizen comments and concerns related to our public safety investments:

Favor prevention and early intervention efforts; don't wait until it's too late and then police action is required
Strengthen community centers; give youth positive places to hang out
Increase police foot patrols in neighborhood business districts; relationships with business owners and police are excellent when officers come into our stores and meet us
Use non-police staff for problem-solving; don't always require police officers to do everything
Expand the clean-alley program
Parking Enforcement Officers should be more engaged with their neighborhood areas; use PEOs as eyes and ears, let them solve street disorder issues
Police department needs better customer service; 911 operators are sometimes rude
Continue "park activation" program in center city parks, especially in international district
Fix broken streetlights, clean up graffiti and litter
Continue to fund park rangers
Be careful when reducing fire department; provide more facts and overall context for why such cuts might be necessary
Where can City achieve more efficiencies in public safety expenses?
Build respect and trust with police officers; worry about "rogue" police actions that damage overall reputation of our officers
Produce a 911 training video for citizens so they know what to expect when they call 911
More accountability for police officers and for program effectiveness

Additional neighborhood budget discussions are planned. Check out the details here.

Posted by Tim Burgess on May 24, 2011 at 09:28 AM in Budget and Finance, Public Safety | Permalink

Comments

Here is a quick list of citizen comments and concerns related to our public safety investments:

Favor prevention and early intervention efforts; don't wait until it's too late and then police action is required
Strengthen community centers; give youth positive places to hang out
Increase police foot patrols in neighborhood business districts; relationships with business owners and police are excellent when officers come into our stores and meet us
Use non-police staff for problem-solving; don't always require police officers to do everything
Expand the clean-alley program
Parking Enforcement Officers should be more engaged with their neighborhood areas; use PEOs as eyes and ears, let them solve street disorder issues
Police department needs better customer service; 911 operators are sometimes rude
Continue "park activation" program in center city parks, especially in international district
Fix broken streetlights, clean up graffiti and litter
Continue to fund park rangers
Be careful when reducing fire department; provide more facts and overall context for why such cuts might be necessary
Where can City achieve more efficiencies in public safety expenses?
Build respect and trust with police officers; worry about "rogue" police actions that damage overall reputation of our officers
Produce a 911 training video for citizens so they know what to expect when they call 911
More accountability for police officers and for program effectiveness

Additional neighborhood budget discussions are planned. Check out the details here.

Burgess Bookshelf

Snyder, Timothy: Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty from a Hospital Diary
This book, along with Snyder's earlier, On Tyranny, is packed full of useful policy ideas that can help rebuild our country. Snyder's understanding of the rising threat of authoritarianism is exactly what needs to be understood today, coupled with his diagnosis of how we have failed to support all of the people of America.
Putnam, Robert D.: The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again
Here's a hope filled historical review of how America has made itself more inclusive and equitable and can do it again. Very encouraging.
Sacks, Jonathan: Morality: Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times
Rabbi Sacks' book is essential reading, in my opinion, especially now when freedom is under such attack. His wisdom fills every page, his defense of liberal democracy is compelling.
Epstein, David: Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
This is a compelling and great read. I love it since I'm a generalist.
McCaulley, Esau: Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope
While the white Christian church, especially evangelicalism, was the dominant influence in my family of origin and my youth, I've learned so much more recently from the Black church. McCaulley's book is a very good introduction to Black theology and biblical interpretation.
Yglesias, Matthew: One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger
A critical thinker and blogger, Yglesias lays out a vision for America that is more inclusive and equitable; includes good sections on early learning and the crucial value of immigration.
Thomas E. Ricks: Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom
This book examines the lives and efforts of two men who never met each other but who helped save democracy leading up to and during World War II. Another much read for those who are worried about the American condition today.
Timothy Snyder: The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America
From the author of "On Tyranny" comes another pithy look at how freedom and democracy can be destroyed from within.
Greg Weiner: American Burke: The Uncommon Liberalism of Daniel Patrick Moynihan (American Political Thought)
Fascinating account of the former New York Senator; good friend and colleague of our own Senator Henry Jackson.
Steven Levitsky & Daniel Liblatt: How Democracies Die
This is a must read for people concerned about the future of our democracy. One of their main points is that democracies begin to fail when the norms of civil discourse and the rule of law begin to crumble. We are seeing that happen before our very eyes today.