The author, who is known to me, who would like to remain anonymous for reasons that should be obvious. The author attended the Newton Public Schools for 13 years and has worked in Newton’s restaurants, Newton’s public libraries, and currently the Newton Public Schools.
During my most recent Zoom meeting with one of my students, I asked how he was feeling about the current protests—his father is a Newton police officer, and I wanted to make sure my student was feeling okay. I can only imagine the pain a 14-year-old must feel as they see post after post saying their father’s workplace should be defunded. A few days prior to that conversation, I received an email from David Fleishman, who as of 2017 was paid approximately $300,000 dollars a year, saying that my roughly $22,000/year salary was too much for the city and my contract would possibly not be renewed.
Toni Morrison once wrote, “You are not the work you do; you are the person you are.” I spent my entire childhood in Newton and have only positive relationships with the police officers I have met outside of their work. My brother is good friends with a Newton police officer and he has been to my parent’s house many times—he is kind, committed to justice, and welcoming to others. He even texted my brother “Black Lives Matter” a few days ago.
The first time I remember interacting with the police in a professional capacity, I was a junior in high school hanging out with a few friends at night in Newton Center. It was probably around nine or ten P.M. I was a nerd in high school, so we weren’t drunk, and I was probably driving that night anyway. The carnival was set up on the green, so we went over to see what it looked like at night. A police officer appeared and yelled at us—and I mean really yelled at us, like someone yells at a sports match, not in the way that my students use the word yell to mean “a teacher used any tone of voice to tell me to stop doing something.” He told us to get the hell off the green, so we ran away, and I mean really ran. I was 16 years old, a closeted gay teen, had never had a drop of alcohol in my life, and I was terrified.
Reader, are you a white, home-owning adult over the age of 35 living in Newton, Massachusetts? Think back to all the times you remember interacting with any police officer in person for any reason at any point in your life. Maybe it was a time you got a speeding ticket. Did the officer’s presence make you feel safer? Or did you feel nervous as the officer approached? Did you feel like the rule you had broked was integral to the function of our society? Did you harbor any ill will towards that officer at any time before, during or after your interaction? Did you feel any frustration or powerlessness?
None of these police officers are bad people. Even Jeronimo Yanez, the cop who killed Philando Castile, was not a bad person according to his best friend in high school. But as I face the potential loss of my job, as my students face yet another round of losing the familiar adults in their life who support them, as the Newton Parks budget faces $424,000 in cuts, as the Newton Free Library (a place that practically raised me, and one of the only places in the entire city where anyone can sit down in an indoor place without having to spend any money) faces over $158,000 in cuts and the loss of its Sunday hours, while at the same time the Police department budget is increasing by $147,000 and Mayor Fuller kneels alongside our Chief of Police, I can’t help but wonder, who is my city changing for? Are the working people of Newton, those of us who have to work multiple jobs just to get by, those of us worried about the rising costs of our healthcare, those of us who are trying to balance expensive childcare with rent and mortgages, are we better served by an increase in policing? Or are we better served by robust public libraries, fully staffed public schools, and well-maintained public parks? And why do our elected officials seem to prefer the former?
Newton is a great city and community that I am proud to call my home, but we are only as great as our least well off member. Newton’s residents should email and call the Mayor and City Council members to demand the increased police budget be instead put towards our parks, schools, and libraries. This city is ours. It’s time we demand better.
Hi readers, author here while I would like to remain anonymous, I am happy to engage with any and all thoughtful ideas here in the chat :) what do you all think?
So important! Calling and emailing my city councilors about putting that money toward parks, libraries, and social services
What is the $147k increase in police budget provide for Newton? Is it targeted for new equipment (body cameras, cars etc)?
Once that is established, its a fair conversation to have. However, those calling for police budget cuts should be encouraged to ride along police on the night shift for several days to appreciate how difficult their jobs can be.
If newton PD have a culture or history of racism, they should be called out for it. If they are doing a good job keeping us safe, they should be commended
The protests on police brutality should not reflect badly on Newton PD “IF” they are doing a good job.
Thanks for your response Bogek. I agree the that police brutality protests shouldn’t reflect badly on Newton PD unless we have reason to believe they caused harm, and like I said in the piece I have nothing but positive thoughts towards the police I know in real life. But does Newton really need new body cameras, new cars, etc.? I find it hard to believe that those things are more essential to the working people of Newton than a functioning public library, which provides childcare, education services, ESL courses, teen services, and literacy to all residents. As someone who took huge advantage of these services throughout my whole life, I am saddened to think that the children of Newton will lose out on them because our police need new cars.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and your experiences. I think it’s time that the city, officials and citizens included, reevaluated what our goals and priorities are, and what assumptions we make about the make up of our city. I’m really disappointed at the budget cuts to services that are quite vital to the City’s culture. When I think about what makes Newton special, the library, the parks and the teachers are at the top of my list. The police are not even on the list. I really hope this is a turning point in Newton’s history, when we think deeply about our responsibilities to our citizens, especially our Black citizens, and consider the role we play in the Greater Boston area
New cars and an increased budget for PD in the context of staff and services being cut across the board in other departments does not make sense to me.
I agree with Jerry! When we take a look at the losses in other services across the board it doesn’t make sense to increase the budget for the PD. I will definitely be contacting my city councillor about this.
Very impressive piece of writing.
Building a bit on the author’s point, we tend to equate “public safety” with “police.” We should be open to the idea that the base assumption isn’t necessarily true. Do the police need the items in their budget? Perhaps, but is the money better spent on community-oriented projects and departments? What helps propel us forward? Is it another police car on the street, or more hours for the library? More funding for maintaining parks? Added budget for youth programming?
Thanks Chuck for your compliment on my writing, I owe it all to my wonderful NPS teachers and all the books I read for free at the library :) and I agree, the library is just as much a safe haven for struggle kids and adults as the police are meant to book. Chuck, can you contact the mayor and councilors with your opinion? Your voice is valuable and should be heard.
As Bugek pointed out, without knowing what the police budget increase is for it’s impossible to have a reasonable discussion.
The shutdown of the economy the last few months will hurt every community economically and loss of tax revenue will hit Newton’s budget hard. It’s surprising that there’s any department with an increase, even a modest one ($147,000). More info is needed.
@Terry you raise a good point–if these times are so tough, why are only some departments being forced to make cuts, and why is it the departments that disproportionately support low-income residents are being forced to take these cuts? Mayor Fuller sent her children to private school and thus has never once had personal stake in the quality of the Newton Public Schools, perhaps that is why she doesn’t seem to see the need for fully funded support staff.
I’ve been thinking about how we’re all taught that racism = prejudice + power, and how so much of the rhetoric around BLM has been about ending prejudice. But ending the power imbalances between White and Black Newtonians is just as important, and it starts with fully funded universal public services like schools, libraries, and parks.
@AnonymousNewtonian I already have!
@Chuck you rock!
Before there is a discussion about shifting funds, perhaps there should be a discussion about how much money the city will actually have in its coffers. At this point, the City does not know how much it will receive in local and educational aid from the Commonwealth – but given the months long closure of the state, it’s a pretty fair bet that we will see a drastic reduction in state aid. Or, as Geoffrey Beckwith, Executive Director of the Mass. Municipal Association said, “Local revenues are dropping like a stone, and there’s no end in sight … This is money that cities and towns count on to balance their budgets.” Link: https://www.newburyportnews.com/news/regional_news/pandemic-puts-local-budgets-in-turmoil/article_a2047973-dd49-515a-97d3-c740e03526e1.html And while we can hope that tax collection, water and sewer collection, excise taxes, etc. will all be paid at rates we have seen in the past, it is probably unrealistic to expect that with people stretched to the financial breaking point, the city will maintain the same level of collections. Terrible times all around.
Not saying the suggestion in this thread is putting the cart before the horse; I am saying first maybe we should make sure that we have a cart to fill and a horse to pull it. Cheers y’all.
@Jerry: I don’t think the increase is for new cars. There is a separate docket item #256-20 Transfer $100,000 for new Police Cruisers HER HONOR THE MAYOR requesting authorization to repurpose and transfer the sum of one hundred thousand dollars($100,000) from Comptroller’s Reserve Acct #01C20107- 585010 originally set aside for a Police Incident Command Vehicle to new Police Cruisers. to transfer funds and I would think that the remaining vehicles – as part of the departments vehicle replacement program would be found in the capital budget – not the operational budget – but happy to be corrected on that. The Police Department’s Patrol Services is increasing by $419,871.00. There are 5 vacant positions in that division which I believe are new and account for approximately $250K (about $52K per position).
@Amy Sangiolo – As I understand it all other department’s vacant positions are on hold. If so, why would the five vacant PD positions not be?
I do want to emphasize that I am not at all knowledgeable about City budget details. That said, it at least appears that the PD and FD aren’t being held to the same austerity measures that other departments are.
@Jerry that sums up my thoughts very well. The police needs 5 more hires but the schools have to make layoffs? Why? Why why why why why? I’m not interested in political responses to the question of why, I’m interested in moral responses, of which I’ve yet to hear any.
Amy, please know that my response here is not directed toward you, the messenger of the docket item you shared regarding the $100k for two new police cruisers.
While it is true, as I understand it, that this is in a distinct pot of money from the FY21 budget, and I’ve heard some claims that that makes it somehow untouchable, it’s in fact fully within the power of the Mayor to re-allocate these funds, especially now when we are in a global pandemic and economic meltdown. Unless there is statute or ordinance that blocks the Mayor from exercising fiscal discretion during an emergency, every single taxpayer dollar needs to be scrutinized. That is fiscal responsibility and a fiduciary duty. Jobs and essential services are on the cutting block. Two new cars cannot be a priority now.
The mayor must choose to prioritize people over cars.
I’ve heard a number of uncompelling arguments for why these squad cars are needed. One is that it is no longer possible for Newton Cops to do walking beats like they did in the old days, even though we have new police-grade mobility options like ebikes to quickly move around the city. Another is that residents have asked for police to be able to catch violators of the leaf blower ordinance before they can escape. This is disingenuous given what I have heard about the response time with which police are currently enforcing the blower ordinance. They could have been doing way better as long as the ordinance has been law.
The note given in the docket item justifying the squad cars is bizarre and confusing. It refers to a no-longer needed Incident Command Vehicle, which raises the question as to why that was originally needed and why it no longer is. It doesn’t actually justify the purchase and establish need. It mentions the normal turnover rate of cars, but doesn’t question if the status quo motor pool size or turnover rate is sustainable, desirable, or ever expected to change. We need to be asking tough questions. I’m not hearing them.
Finally, Newton just passed its landmark Climate Action Plan, into which we are in the first of five years. Vehicle electrification, including explicit mention of police vehicles, are central to this plan. The cognitive disconnect I’m witnessing as so-called climate champions are silent on this makes me wonder if we are really serious about this, for our children and future generations, or has this all just been a feel-good rhetorical exercise? We cannot invest further in fossil fuel infrastructure, and two new gasoline cars is an investment in dirty fossil energy and a further eroded climate. We will see who actually walks the talk on climate, and for whom this are just words on paper.
One could argue that as economy worsens (higher unemployment) in Newton and surrounding areas.. crime will pickup.
This is not theoretical.
So as crime increases, residents rightly want to be protected against a rise in crime (spousal abuse due to finances, burglarly, car thefts, store thefts, assaults and mugging)
@Nathan and @Bugek both important points. Nathan, thanks for clarifying that the Mayor does in fact have power to reallocate these funds. I hope she remembers the citizens who elected her and have the power to replace her when she is making her decision.
Bugek, you are right that a worsening economy could lead to more crime–when people have unmet needs, they may resort to criminal activity to get those needs met. However it’s better to make sure everyone has their needs met in the first place and doesn’t have to turn to crime at all. Newton is one of the wealthiest cities in the nation, so we should have absolutely 0 families going hungry or without financial stability, and we can be certain of this by investing in quality social services like community centers, food pantries/delivery options, senior services, women’s shelters, mental health facilities, etc. We need to prioritize having all our citizens needs met to reduce crime, rather than punish citizens for a problem that the government has failed to solve.
@Amy I also heard about the 420k increase in patrolling, which is odd as calls to service have decreased, so why is this a needed spend?
@Everyone I wanna mention again that this discussion happening here is great, but it will only lead to action if we contact our elected officials. Who can commit to emailing/calling the Mayor and city council tomorrow before noon?
Anonymous,
i fear the crime will be perpetrated by outside Newton. An affluent city with 30% senior citizen population is prime target unfortunately…
Anyone who lived here during the 1992, 2000, 2008 downturns can comment?
I would add that this blog audience will be particularly important in emailing city council and the Mayor, given the (perceived) age of the average reader. I call to your attention this tweet from Ward 5 City Council Bill Humphrey “I (obviously) do not share the view of some City Council members who dismiss the budget feedback emails based on the perceived median age of the people emailing. Every resident of any age or even citizenship status carries the same weight as anyone else when they write in to me.”
https://twitter.com/HumphreyWard5/status/1269377075745562625
I cannot answer the question the writer asks:
“Reader, …Think back to all the times you remember interacting with any police officer in person for any reason at any point in your life. Maybe it was a time you got a speeding ticket. Did the officer’s presence make you feel safer? Or did you feel nervous as the officer approached? Did you feel like the rule you had broked was integral to the function of our society? Did you harbor any ill will towards that officer at any time before, during or after your interaction? Did you feel any frustration or powerlessness?”
And I will answer: Yes, I do recall interacting with a police officer, three police officer in fact…. And it was when I was being brutally assaulted, seconds away from murdered, in my own apartment, and the three policemen did not hesitate one second to enter my apartment and save my life, not knowing what weapon this assailant had, and then pursue the offender.
Whatever interactions I have had that have been unpleasant, And I have had my share of that too, it’s impossible to not acknowledge that the police often are there when we most need them, and risk their lives in so doing.
I think the youthful writer needs to expand his frame of reference somewhat. Hopefully the writer will never need a cop – or three – as I did.
@Nathan: Yes – the Mayor has the power to re-allocate the request for the transfer of funds that currently sit in the Comptroller’s account earmarked for the Command Vehicle – an order that the Chief cancelled. If the City Council rejects this request, it is my understanding that the funds will remain in the current account and cannot be used for anything else unless the Mayor makes that request to be approved by the City Council.
@ Jerry: Unfortunately, I am not the current Mayor and cannot explain the rationale for increasing the staff – police patrol officers – in this year’s budget. From what I can see in the Budget documents, it appears – these are not current positions – but newly created positions. The City Council Committee that reviews the Police Budget made this reference to patrols: “Chief MacDonald stated that the
officers conduct approximately 120 directed patrols per day on weekdays. He then explained the minimum manning requirements for the department as follows: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. shift requires a minimum of ten officers. 3:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. shift requires a minimum of twelve officers. 11:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. shift requires a minimum of nine officers. Chief MacDonald stated that the police officers have not been using their vacation time being able to supplement and higher the number of shift manning requirements. Police officers focus on village centers, schools and houses of worship when conducting directed patrols.”
@Anonymous Newtonian: I do not believe the the cuts you describe were made post-COVID-19. These are cuts/decisions made by the School Department and approved by the School Committee pre- COVID-19 and pre- the Mayor’s request that the School Department decrease its budget by $1.500,000 – which consists of
Thank you for this thoughtful article, and thanks to everyone who is helping Newton residents decipher the different elements of the budget and how they are controlled and changed. It will be important to continue learning about the technicalities of the process so that we can make more nuanced and specific demands. I wholeheartedly agree that Newton already feels safe, and that things such as schools, parks, and the library are the things that make Newton a great place to live, and which should be prioritized in budget negotiations. For the few residents of color who live in Newton, I do not think that the police has helped our city to be more inclusive (even thinking back to recent incidents, such as that with Tim Duncan, which was clearly racially-motivated). I hope that we continue this conversation this week and beyond.
We need to really think critically about what public safety means and why it is assumed that the police are the only ones who have a role to play. If someone is having a mental health crisis sending in armed cops is asking for trouble. Many domestic violence calls can be resolved without any need for force. Sending in an armed officer into 90% of interactions with the public is an escalation; at that point their “deescalation training” is moot. Lets rethink where and when the police are actually needed, because most of the time there’s a more humane solution to the problem.
Thank you for your testimony here! I hope city councilors and they mayor will schedule an emergency hearing on police budgeting.
Courtney,
Small correction. Newton has 20% POC population, thats more than just a few…
http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/planning/demog/default.asp
I really like benyamin’s suggestion… not all incidences require police.
Kudos to @anonymous for reaching out to the student who is the son of a Newton police officer.
All too often, as a group is vilified, we forget that these too are people; neighbors; with families and children who will struggle to grasp why everyone hates their parent who is often the kid’s hero. It’s amazing how the kindness and good intentions of progressivism can sometimes come out quite mean and angry.
We like to think of ourselves (Newton) as a progressive city, yet dare anyone have a differing opinion, and they too are met with the venom of 1,000 tongues. That is not building to something greater, but instead dividing.
Progressive ideals will never trump (no pun intended) the realities of finite re$ource$. If we want to do more, we will need to fund more – not just take from Peter to pay Paul. Rather than emailing your councilors on what should or should not be cut, ask for a tax increase. Or gather your most affluent friends in Newton (there are many with great means) to fund raise for programs such as keeping Sunday hours for the library. Think outside the box, not just poke at the one we have with thousands of needles.
@Bugek I agree that Benyamin raises a good point about not all incident’s requiring police. We basically already have that with the fire department, where we call in people who are trained and equipped to put out fires rather than people with guns. What if we had the same thing for mental health crises, traffic incidents, domestic violence incidents, etc.? This could be a great issue for you to bring up with the council/Mayor and I encourage you to email/call them, your voice is worth hearing.
@Matt thanks for the kudos. I agree there are many affluent families in Newton with great means to fund our social services. But I think rather than be forced to beg them to fund our services for us, the government should just be doing its job and taxing them at a higher rate to pay for social services. It is wrong to have people in Newton with insane amounts of wealth while low-income residents are seeing the public services they rely on cut.
Anonymous
The perception that every Newton resident can easily shoulder a tax increase is not true.
30% of the population are seniors. Likely on fixed income. These folks are probably 2 or 3 tax overrides away from having to leave their life long city.
Newer residents are likely to be double income parents stretching for their kids to get a good education in Newton.
I would rather have an “independent ” study done on city finances to identify overlap and fat before tax increases.
@Bugek for sure. I am not a tax expert but meant that we should have higher tax rates specifically on those above a certain income threshold (perhaps a marginal tax rate). Those who have amasses vast personal wealth should be taxed to fund public services, especially if they are choosing to buy their way out of those public services (looking at a certain Mayor). Seniors, struggling families, and low income residents should obviously not be taxed at the same rate, and we need to make sure those residents are provided with robust social services so they have a safety net in the event of a financial emergency.
Thank you for echoing my thoughts so well. I think we share similar backgrounds– I grew up and was educated in Newton, and am now a paraprofessional in NPS working with a vulnerable special education population, and I, too, am concerned for my job security this fall. (I’m not a Newton resident because I could never afford to even rent a room here on my paraprofessional salary, but my mother is still a Newton resident and NPS teacher, and my youngest sibling just graduated from South). My family and my students still make Newton my community and I’m so disheartened to learn of this budget situation. The utterance of “leaf-blowers” in this conversation is disturbing and depressing. I will write to my family residing in Newton to also contact elected officials. I think Jerry Reilly should edit the post with contact information to increase the likelihood of people following through. Thank you again for shedding light on this important issue– I would like to think that the city I’m proud to call home, the city whose children I wake up for every morning, will be aligned with the national shift in the way we discuss and handle police reform. That begins by putting your money where your mouth is– community institutions that will actively and effectively support our most marginalized citizens.
Anonymous
Not a tax expert also, but i assume wealthier Newton residents are taxed more because their homes are assessed higher.
Unless Newton introduces a city income tax (eg NYC), i don’t see any other way to have wealthier residents pay more for local services.
Perhaps could have a luxury car tax, mansion tax etc
@Newton educator thanks for echoing my thoughts. Solidarity my friend and colleague!
@Bugek maybe a city income tax is a good idea. Or maybe something like a private school tuition tax, or something like that. If people have the means to opt out of public services than they should be taxed to pay for those who cannot.
Benyamin,
With all due respect, do you have any source for your claim that many domestic violence calls [to police] can be resolved without “force” by which I think you mean police involvement? And if your only basis of experience is a college campus I would respectfully suggest that is not an appropriate starting point to evaluate response to domestic violence .
Victims of domestic violence often do not call police, and when they do it is because they are being physically abused. In that situation, they need someone who can (a) protect them from the aggressor, (b) remove the aggressor and (c) assist them as Is often needed, in obtaining an emergency abuse protection order from a judge.
Frankly, it took years and years of hard work to get police, prosecutors, law makers and judges to recognize that domestic violence is prevalent and dangerous. It took the deaths and maimings of far too many women before real protections were enacted. You can’t peacefully resolve a domestic call when one party has physically harmed another.
And when someone calls 911 the responders have no way of knowing whether they will find two people who are intoxicated and having a verbal altercation, a victim with their eyes nearly gouged out (actual case) or a victim who has died of multiple stab wounds (2 of my cases) – both occurred in nice suburban towns in Middlesex County. The officers who responded to domestic calls found crime scenes which I suspect they will never forget. Having had to review the crime scene and autopsy photos, neither will I. But before they arrived, they had absolutely no way of knowing whether or to what extent the situation escalated. That’s not a situation I would send a social worker or mental health worker into under any circumstances.
For everyone in the comments, there will be a public zoom meeting with City Council regarding the budget this WEDNESDAY at 4PM (https://tinyurl.com/newtoncouncil). A strong turnout will be a powerful way to make our legislators support us! You can RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/newtonrsvp. RSVP is REQUIRED to receive the zoom link.
Budget Action: A knee jerk reaction to simply de-fund any aspect of the city budget is reckless and does not serve the community. Many of you stated the need for police in a variety of ways and its important to note, especially to New City Councilors, that the Police Department wasn’t built overnight.
In 2014, now City Council Vice President, Rick Lipof sat on a Police Review Committee to determine the role of the Police as seen by the community, and to fund the department at certain levels. As I was leaving the Council in late 2019, there was a conversation in the Public Safety Committee to start another Police Review. The committee is named, the Public Safety and Transportation Committee, and the agenda over the past 4 years went more towards Transportation and let Public Safety on police and fire run on automatic. This was a mistake and the committee needs to once again focus on the Police and Fire Departments. One of the glaring issues that Councilor Lipoff noted to our committee was that due to police staff shortages, newer officers were doing a 2nd consecutive shift of forced overtime. These 16 hour shifts were not safe for the officers involved, nor the public and the current staffing level was set to eliminate this need.
The Newton Police are doing exactly what the residents, past City Councils, and Mayors asked them to do. Actively finding fault with the execution of their mission is not their fault nor should they be a target of activism with no studies.
My guess is that many residents cannot fathom the encounters a Police Officer has within their work day. I do know though that as a City Councilor, the many of the neighborhood meetings that I conducted focussed on the Police was demanded by residents to increase activity not to decrease their presence. As recently as the 4th of July in 2019, the Franklin Elementary School neighborhood was rightfully upset at illegal and dangerous fireworks being used on public property. Parents demanded action and were upset that the Community Police Officer was too nice to the festive crowds. A good quote to the public in the meeting was that “You want us to search kids, and their backpacks, do you want us to search your kids backpack?”
Remember, President Clinton led Crime Bills in the 90’s that went through for a reason, and to simply forget history, and lop off police budget items without a new review is careless and may endanger your life.
Please let the Mayor do it right, set up a committee from the community, and with the experts, figure out what you actually want your police to do.
Can you imagine going to work everyday, hearing that your the problem with society?
Jim – the crime bills in the 90s accelerated mass incarceration and had a particularly discriminatory effect on communities of color. This is not something you should be holding up as a positive example.
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/criminal-justice/reports/2019/03/26/467486/1994-crime-bill-continues-undercut-justice-reform-heres-stop/
@Bryan: Sorry I didn’t mean that as a positive example, but as an example of a “knee jerk” reaction to the buzz in the crowd. Social programs would have done a better job, but they went the wrong way with the legislation. I was opposed to the many terms of the day such as 3 strikes your out, etc.
“…to simply forget history, and lop off police budget items without a new review is careless and may endanger your life. Please let the Mayor do it right, set up a committee from the community, and with the experts, figure out what you actually want your police to do.”
Jim, I couldn’t agree more with you on this. We need to pause on the Police Budget vote so we can get the basic transparency which is currently lacking. I can’t find basic information on the City’s website like what the size and condition of the police vehicle fleet is; how much overtime and “other” salary officers are being paid beyond their base salary; and what the budget for and arsenal of “weapons of war”, militarized equipment, is. I’m really surprised that I could not find these basic pieces of information on the City of Newton nor the Newton PD web sites. Let’s take the time we need to do due diligence. It’s our tax dollars, so let’ make sure they’re spent wisely.
Speaking of the ’94 crime bill, this article provides some nice background on it.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/09/joe-biden-crime-bill-and-americans-short-memory/597547/
We can resolve some of the disparity between foresight and hindsight by being attentive and ready to do better (or avoid, as Jim says, “running on automatic”).
On the other hand, the shift from PS&T to pay attention to “T” (transportation) was also very important for Newton. Newton neglected its transportation system for more than thirty years. We’re still catching up. Part of the reason is that we have Traffic Council and PS&T and Public Facilities and Full Council in addition to staff. And right now, we have a couple of traffic engineers, a backlog of work, and no money. (Incidentally, I continue to wish that the Newton Police contribute more consistently to transportation planning and safety in the City.)
But also means not letting the “Public Safety” oversight run on automatic. I believe that just like the military, civilian control and oversight of the police is essential. They serve in our name. They should reflect our priorities. We draw the line at their responsibilities. We should set high standards for them and hold them accountable. And we too have the obligation to keep them safe as our employees.
I’m interested what happened between the time between the 2014 police review committee Jim references and now.
@Jim Cote – I totally agree with much of what you say and yes the police are a needed and valued part of our community.
You say “A knee jerk reaction to simply de-fund any aspect of the city budget is reckless and does not serve the community”. That’s generally true, but unfortunately due to the unforseen Covid19 situation that’s just what we’re up against. The new budget proposes closing the library on Sunday, cutting the Parks & Recreation budget, lay offs in the school department, etc.
None of these are choices we would have made six months ago. The questions I’ve been asking is are the Police and Fire Depts sharing equally in the pain and unpleasant, unwanted trade-offs that the rest of the City government is undergoing? I’m in no way knowledgeable about the details of the city budget, but as a concerned citizen I hear the the PD budget’s going up while others are going down, new squads cars are being bought while we’re closing the library, the the PD is hiring while other departments have a hiring freeze.
I’ll be the first to recognize that there very well may be good reasons for those choices. If so, those reasons should be very publicly and clearly explained. Otherwise, it appears that certain departments are off limits for cuts during these financial hard times while others are being slashed.
Bryan,
You need to go further back in history if you want to understand the increases in mass incarceration. It was the adoption of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines in the mid 1980’s which was the precursor to the Clinton era crime bill. And recall that Democrats were trying to take the “tough on crime” mantle away from republicans. Mass incarceration was at its all time highest in 2008 according to the ACLU. And yes, people of color have been disproportionately impacted by “truth in sentencing” bills and the federal guidelines. While most long incarcerations in the Commonwealth are reserved for the worst offenses (murder, rape), a series of state convictions for crimes of violence which are broadly defined can dramatically increase an individual’s sentence if charges in federal court. That leaves public defenders scrambling to vacate state court convictions which harshly drive up numbers in federal sentences.
But as someone in the state senate, you personally can actually do something about the disparity in the criminal justice system by committing to support the work of CPCS – the State’s public defender agency.
Thinking back to the times I remember interacting with any police officer in person for any reason at any point in your life, I am thankful for the police. One interaction occurred when I was out for a run at 10:30 am on the carriage road. A car had seemed like it was circling me; luckily I was aware because when he pulled over and got out of the car and tried to grab me, I was able to break free. I ran to the closest house, screaming, and called 911 with the license plate. The police were a wonderful help, not only in finding the person but reassuring me that I could call anytime. Another time I was followed home while running, and again the police were right there. I only run in broad daylight and never wear headphones so I’m very careful but I’ve been thankful for the police when my diligence was not enough.
@Mike: Transportation is a solid need, and your group has added an immense value to the process, along with a focussed Traffic Council, and as you note my only point was that police/fire accountability was watered down in the process.
@Jerry: It’s crazy times and things have happened that were totally unforeseen. Cutting a day or 2 in the library, scaling back Park services, but not access to Parks, may be prudent, from my outside view other actions could’ve been taken. I really believe that had the city forecast that schools wouldn’t reopen for this school year then a lot of money could have been saved by layoffs that would have put educational staff on the unique PUA unemployment benefits. The city would have saved money, and the educators would’ve received compensation. Private businesses shut down everyone, and government did not. Again I’m outside looking in on the budget this year.
On Police, Fire, and Public Works for instance, yes you could save something, delay some equipment purchases, cancel non-revenue producing inspections, etc, but one thing I learned about Newton when it comes to Public Safety (police, fire, streets) is that when the resident calls they expect fast action. The Mayor is sharp and know the priorities, and couple that with some new ad hoc committees and possibly we can sharpen the knives and make limited cuts all around.
@Nathan is right on, during these unusual times, possibly we can get the state to extend this budget year and delay the next budget. All impossible under current laws, but these times are different.
@James Cote does cutting a day or two in the library not seem like a greater loss to you than canceling the purchase of new police cars? The library is a public good that disproportionately serves our low income, minority, youth, senior, and non-English speaking residents, all essential members of our community.
@Anonymous Newton: Please note in my comments that I mentioned pushing out equipment purchases as a possible option.
@James Cote great, I am happy to hear that you support canceling the funding towards the new police vehicles. Would you considering voicing that opinion to the City Council and Mayor? You voice is important and we’d love to have it shared :)