Many of my posts have dealt with the financially inefficient and operationally ineffective practice of overlapping City of Fresno/County of Fresno police and fire services. A number of efforts have been made over the years to eliminate this duplication of services and provide better public safety services for all the taxpayers, regardless of where they live. Sheriff Margaret Mims seems to be continuing the County's practice of saying 'no' to change.
Four years ago the Greater Fresno Chamber of Commerce commissioned an outside consultant to study City/County police and sheriff services. That study found that consolidation of selected police and sheriff services would be very beneficial. The Chamber encouraged the Fresno City Council and Fresno Board of Supervisors to convene a joint study committee to consider the study recommendations. A joint commission was formed and meetings held. Police Chief Jerry Dyer and the City Council (full disclosure: I was then a council member) were anxious to consolidate services in selected areas. Sheriff Mims and the County Board sat on their hands. Nothing, to the disappointment of the City and the Chamber of Commerce, was accomplished.
More recently, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer and Mayor Ashley Swearengin indicated to Sheriff Mims that the Fresno Police Department would be willing to cover the county islands, including Sunnyside, Fig Garden, Bullard, Mayfair and Calwa, thereby releasing deputies to better cover unincorporated areas of Fresno County and provide jail services. Weak excuses by Sheriff Mims quickly sank this excellent proposal.
What to make of this lack of cooperation? It's simply turf, turf, and more turf. The County, whether the Board of Supervisors or the Sheriff, won't even consider letting the City of Fresno take over responsibility for selected public protection functions. And does the County have the finances to adequately handle their protective services? The answer is an obvious 'no' (and it is only going to get worse).
I am amazed that the taxpayers don't demand that a county-wide commission of respected citizens be formed to consider the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness associated with duplicated public services, particularly protective services such as police and fire, and then elect officials that will do something about it.
Coming Soon. . .
1) A neglected slice of Fresno finally gets city water.
2) Fresno's choices on high speed rail and rail consolidation.
3) What's with this "Clunker" deal?
Comments are welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail me at abriancalhoun@gmail.com.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment