>From today's Strib..... "The Minneapolis Police Department's five-year plan, released Monday, highlights innovative crime fighting and funding strategies, but the number that stands out in the 73-page report is 137. That's how many officers the department would lose and most likely not replace by the end of 2008 as it strives to cut total spending during the period by $12.5 million. Using historic staffing projections, the department would shrink to 641 licensed officers, the fewest number of officers on Minneapolis streets since 1958, said police union President Sgt. John Delmonico."
Council Member Gary Schiff said he wouldn't, especially with the "unimaginable" potential loss of police service the city might be dealing with by 2008. Schiff said the new plan makes it clear that city leaders who want more police service will have to make additional cuts in other departments or approve new tax increases." The article link: http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4840194.html Commentary: Essential services will continue to disappear and property taxes will continue to increase UNTIL MINNEAPOLIS VOTERS pay attention to the cash hemorrhage being perpetuated downtown at City Hall. Weren't we told that all of this new publicly financed development (more than $500 million worth over the past several years) was going to increase our tax base? What happened to all of the new tax revenue? Minneapolis can't even fund its pensions. Vicky Heller North Oaks and Cedar-Riverside REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
