Let’s make a list of all the public safety cuts under Kerry Muffy Healey, the original SOFT ON CRIME – less cops candidate
Public Safety Staffing in Arlington
FY2003 (2002-03) 45 officers, 10 sergeants, 58 firefighters
–Romney-Healey elected November, 2002–
–20% local aid cut–
FY2004 (2003-04) 41 officers, 9 sergeants, 49 firefighters
FY2005 (2004-05) 41 officers, 9 sergeants, 49 firefighters
FY2006 (2005-06) 42 officers, 9 sergeants, 49 firefighters
FY2007 (2006-07) 42 officers, 9 sergeants, 50 firefighters
Now it’s time to add your town!
Please share widely!
For a while it seemed Arlington cops were being let go for various shady circumstances. The one that sticks out in my mind is a cop caught being a peeping Tom. I’d imagine this guy and others made it into the numbers.
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Is Arlington less safe now with only 42 officers? Always seemed to me like there were way too many cops around doing nothing.
Arlington is not the starkest example because the worst cuts there were averted with overrides, one substantial.
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Though there is just as much unfairness in passing the buck to a town that raises he property tax versus one that cuts public safety, examples of the latter are what will yeild numbers of police and fire cut.
Yes, we did have one officer who did the “peeping tom” thing. He was dismissed, though I think that was several years before the Mitt-Muffy team took office.
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Yes, Arlington had a very large override ($6 million, a 10% property tax increase) on June 11, 2005. It passed, 7126 to 6570, and even with the huge override, town and school services are still reduced from the Jane Swift years.
The Romney-Healey Administration dismantled all hate crimes and school harassment prevention programs in the Executive Office of Public Safety. The Romney-Healey position on crime is less concerned about the civil rights ramifications. So they’re selective about which “crimes” they’re tough on.
where did you get this info? Is it readily available for other communities?
The Arlington Finance Committee has its budget recommendations to town meeting online.
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http://www.arlington…
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If your town isn’t online, there should be copies at town hall or the local library. Some towns have this information in their annual report to town meeting, another online resource.
So where does THAT leave you?
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Cities and towns make these decisions – not the state.
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Will it be Healey’s fault if you would rather have your curbside pickup on Tuesday instead of Thursday?
Where did they get the money? We had a 20% cut in local aid.
I bet you don’t live in Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn or Brockton. Something tells me you live in a wealthy town.
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Cities and towns do make these decisions, and they’re based on fiscal health. If money to majority of cities and towns havs been cut, do you think they’re hiring cops and firefighters? Most of them are decreasing services and raising fees.