WPCNR Police Gazette. Commentary From a Public Safety Observer. April 24, 2010: Editor’s Notes: The White Plains “Downtown Drinking Scene” is growing too popular and explosive to control if city cuts personnel, a veteran public safety expert says.
A person who has observed the White Plains Public Safety Department for a long time, a veteran in managing police and fire operations, notes the rapidly growing “drinking district” in White Plains is becoming increasingly will require more police presence not less.
In the following analysis, they encourage city management to take notice it is not only money and the deficit the Mayor should be considering in his demands on the city’s unions
The observer’s letter (name withheld by WPCNR to protect the innocent from reprisal), points out that the downtown drinking scene on the weekends in White Plains is a “powder keg.”
They worry that with two more bars scheduled to open on the Mamaroneck Avenue “pub walk” (bringing the number of “drinking stations” to12), the potential for violence is an issue where the Common Council and the city should not reduce police personnel as the downtown drinking scene becomes more popular.
They warn that when New Rochelle lost control of their bar security down town it took years for that city to get back to a productive, nightlife, and the Queen City of the Sound has still not recovered completely.
The council, according to WPCNR observations has not inquired about the downtown atmosphere in the last four months. They also appear not to have inquired about escalating downtown drinking violence issues, even though requests for more outdoor sidewalk and patios are being requested by numerous bars.
WPCNR notes that a police officer was actually attacked in the last week by a drunken male bar patron who was fighting with a woman on the sidewalk. When approached by officers, they allegedly attacked an officer. I do not recall an incident where a White Plains officer was actually attached in many months
Mayor Adam Bradley of White Plains challenged the city police and fire unions to accept a zero wage increase in July, and to find $1,000,000 in savings between the two unions, demanded they pay 15% of their health care benefits, according to sources to save money. Mayor Adam Bradley has informed WPCNR he does not intend to “negotiate in the press,” and had no comment on what he told the city’s four unions Thursday evening.
Here are the observer’s comments which follow in detail:
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The police are already down about 9 or 10 officers due to retirements that the city won’t allow to be replaced. Fire personnel are down about the same. This (Mayor’s proposal) brings manpower down to the level of the 1970s.
Does anybody look at what is going on in our city? On a Friday or Saturday night, there are thousands of people drinking in a three-block radius. College kids are brought in by the bus load. Don’t believe it? Go see for yourself, but not at 10 or 11 P.M. before the Mayor, City Council, and residents go to bed. I’m talking about from midnight to 5 A.M.. Rain or shine, summer or winter.
Who do you think keeps the lid on that powder keg?
Robberies, burglaries, car larcenies, drug dealers, domestic violence, gangs: sorry, but the residents and city officials have to get their heads out of the sand. Yes, as much as nobody wants to admit it, this all happens here in White Plains, just like Yonkers and Mt. Vernon.
But, do you want to know why our city doesn’t look like Yonkers and Mt. Vernon? It’s because of our police and fire departments. Our crime rate is ridiculously low compared to these other cities. They want to lay off more? Remember what New Rochelle looked like when their bar area got out of control? It took years to get it (back) under control. Their business climate was devastated and is still trying to recover.
Victims Services—Crime Prevention.
Some have said that specialized units such as Victims Services are a waste of manpower. Nothing could be further from the truth. Victims Services don’t just take a report and move on. These people are not only helping people after they become victims, they are working with both the victims and offenders so it doesn’t happen again. Victims Services plays a major role in keeping crime numbers down and keeping quality of life for families in the city. They even goes to the jails and meet with inmates before they’re released to make sure they have a place to stay, jobs, mental health services, etc. This way they’re not just let go and go right back to committing the same crimes (in White Plains). VSU even has a mental health professional in the Public Safety Building who goes on calls with White Plains Police to make sure they are doing everything possible to get people the services they need.
Traffic
The Police Traffic Division does enforcement to reduce vehicle and pedestrian accidents. Do you know how many cars travel through White Plains every day? It is a number in the tens of thousands yet accidents and injuries are relatively few in comparison. The number of tickets issued by just the officers in the Traffic Division would put some entire police departments to shame. The Traffic Division also does an outstanding job with funeral escorts. Ask any family who has had an escort how professional it was and how much it meant to them during such a terrible time.
Fire
The White Plains Fire Department is second to none. Fire prevention (services) does such a great job that we don’t have a lot of fires. When White Plains does have fires, the city doesn’t lose a whole block like other cities. You think that’s just luck? The fire department works together with the police to monitor the bar crowds and safety conditions so White Plains doesn’t have those tragedies you see on the news.
Safe Housing
The neighborhood associations complain about the safe housing issues. That is a complicated problem and without our police and fire being so proactive it would be ten times worse. The residents just got the highest fire rating available in New York State. That means they (residential homeowners) pay the lowest rate for fire insurance. You think that just happens?
Demotion of Supervisors
The White Plains Public Safety Department doesn’t have too many supervisors. They don’t have enough. Most Supervisors wear two or three hats and juggle responsibilities—all important and vital. One Deputy Fire Chief for example handles homeland security mandates, attends county and state emergency management meetings; supervises fire department special operations, mandatory training obligations, equipment.
Manpower losses are not being replaced because of city policy. There are many instances where both fire and police supervisors are being spread too thin.
The 15% pay-in—other unions too–Please!
This is a sore subject but many people don’t know some important facts. For the last 20 years when Public Safety personnel are hired they are required to pay 25% of their health care costs for their first 5 years. None of the other unions have been required to do that. So how much money has Public Safety already kicked in?
Do you know the Mayor and Common Council get free medical benefits for life after just 1 term? It’s been rumored to be even less time, but you’d have to verify that. To get the same benefit, the police and fire have to put in a full 20 years of service to the city, if not; they don’t get (free medical benefits for life).
Not for nothing, when policemen and firemen say goodbye to their spouses and children each day, they don’t know if they’ll ever come home. I don’t see that part-time Council job as quite so hazardous.
How many past Mayors and Council people are still on the city payroll for medical benefits? If (the council) wants the unions to pay 15% what is a fair percentage for them if they get so much for giving so little – 30%, 50%, 75%? Or maybe they shouldn’t get that (benefit) at all for what they do?
Blame Delfino?!
The Mayor does not have the authority to spend a dime without the approval of the Council. The Democrats have had the council majority for years and hated Delfino so much that anything he voted for they would vote no just to make him mad. They (the council) voted on every deal that developers got, every union contract, every sale of public land, every one-shot quick fix.
19% Tax Increase
Nobody likes to pay taxes. Police and firefighters all have to send their kids to college, pay their mortgages, and pay taxes just like everybody else.
The residents of the city have to look around and see what other people are paying in taxes and what services they get. For years and years White Plains taxes were so low it was ridiculous compared to other places. Some would be happy to pay White Plains taxes, including the 19% tax increase and get the services that White Plains gets. White Plains is still a great and affordable place to live because of the services. Services cost money.
Police and Fire personnel not easily brought back when you need them again
Demote and lay off Police and Fire personnel and see how fast White Plains starts to look like Yonkers and Mt. Vernon.
What will your property values be then? How long will it take after city hall realizes how short-sighted they were before you can reverse the increase in crime and the downslide in quality of life?
You can hire a sanitation or office worker, give them an orientation, maybe a safety briefing and put them to work. (And by this, I mean no disrespect towards those occupations.)
You hire a police officer and you have to pay that officer for almost 2 years before you can put him or her to work to reverse your mistake. How much will that cost?
Don’t let city hall be so short-sighted and turn White Plains into Yonkers or Mt. Vernon.
