They will all be on buford hwy drunk at the Chapparral.

The Police?

Eric,
Once the tragically inadequate number of Police officers becomes obvious, where will the budget to raise the force levels (to at least 80 Officers) come from?

The hamstring of the millage 'cap' is probably the most ill-considered aspect of the rush to cityhood.

Eddie sometime back you raised a good example of how the millage cap had bad consequences relative to senior care in a northern New York State city.

However in the case of Brookhaven, I'm fine with it. We aren't offering social services. So cuts to services doesn't necessarily push people out into the cold.

So what the millage cap does is force us to make decisions - assuming the numbers are tight - If we find that 53 is not enough and we need more then I'd prefer reducing the Parks Budget or having some potholes or not building many new sidewalks or a combination of the 3 instead of raising taxes. Actually I want the first council and Mayor to adopt a budget that calls for a millage well below the CAP. Recall CVI's forecasts include increased budgets over existing budgets for those services.

I happen to believe the economy, thanks in part to the President's actions and in spite of his opposition's efforts is improving (granted the President has only so much influence on the economy especially as it becomes more global - if not for Europe). Anyway, with the recovery I think we'll find revenues well above the projections - the trick will be in electing folks to keep the expenses down.

"Point 4, special services will be contracted out or gotten through an alliance with neighboring cities."---Eric

Doraville's and Chamblee's police departments are blatantly unacceptable.

In fact anything pitched by the non-electerd---and indeed unsworn---interim government is unacceptable.

Don, I'm curious, why do you feel those departments are unacceptable and do you think they are more unacceptable than DeKalb's?

Mr. Eric, what deficiencies do you find with the DeKalb Police Department?

Please pass the yellow mustard!

My apologies I wasn't trying to say that in this post. Perhaps I should reword my question on why Don G feels the Chamblee and Doraville police are unacceptable by asking does he feel the DeKalb police have the same unacceptable traits as Chamblee and Doraville and if so or if not why.

Eric,
I have a huge problem with the cap because it artificially lowers the real revenue stream to meet an expectation of those imbued with the attitude of 'I'm too important to pay taxes'.

The massive redevelopment that has occurred since 2000 in this area has replaced 1,200 sq. ft. homes with 4,500 ft. plus homes. Most of these homes come complete with every imaginable amenity made visible through stunning picture windows. While the area might not have drawn the level of burglaries prior to 2000, the 'bait' is there for the opportunistic criminals. The public safety costs have been consistently increasing to attend to protecting the citizens and their well displayed properties.
It defies all logic that with the stroke of a pen (and a hopeful 'study') that the increased costs can be rolled back to meet an artificial budget target.

I'm glad the efforts of the President are bearing fruit (although the powers that be in our potty little state seem intent on preventing any progress here except for the gilded few), because the progress is absolutely necessary.

I am not tied to the salesmanship of the faulty concepts. Since the development of a public safety apparatus is now a requirement, that apparatus should be at least as good as what is currently available....or just what is the point of undertaking the operation?

Understood Eddie. But what I'm getting at is that if what you say turns out to be true and we need to up the money we spend on the Police i would rather look at reducing spending in other areas first. Or perhaps people will rethink the need to see an officer patrolling frequently. Or the need to have an officer dust for fingerprints when a laptop is stolen. I had some laptops stolen from my house and they didn't dust for fingerprints because that's an allocation decision that the DeKalb police force made, I personally am ok with it, though I do wonder if they allocate too much to other things. Some people want that higher level of service. I'm not saying they are wrong, but rather than raise the taxes above the CAP I'd like to force a hard look at just what do we need.

Now with all that stated. I still believe the CAP leaves enough room for increasing police presence and for increasing the roads/sidewalk and parks budget. I know you don't, and you can say I'm wrong, but I'm not going to say you are wrong because I don't know and frankly its a done deal and we will find out whose was right in the within a year or two.

Though hopefully by then real estate market will have recovered and I can sell my house and get out of this place and move to unincorporated DeKalb.......... Just kidding, I'm sorry its Friday and I couldn't resist, knock on wood I'm not underwater and I don't want to move.

"Don, I'm curious, why do you feel those departments are unacceptable and do you think they are more unacceptable than DeKalb's?---Eric Hovdesven

I've answered you several times before.

" Perhaps I should reword my question on why Don G feels the Chamblee and Doraville police are unacceptable by asking does he feel the DeKalb police have the same unacceptable traits as Chamblee and Doraville and if so or if not why."--- Eric

The inventions you come up with with your obsession to mince your own words!

Eric,
Fair enough.
The problem with the cost and provision of the other services (especially since the idea is to 'outsource everything') is the concept of contracting for the services.
Without fully funding the 'promised' services, the economics of scale necessary for even minimal service provision won't exist. Of course everything could be attended to in an ad hoc, patcwork fashion and that tends to be substantially more expensive per task attended.
All the while, the task of public safety is constant and growing. Every dollar can only be spent once so substantial public input is needed to determine what the priorities are before the money evaporates.
Although we have been jousting on this franchise-blog-forum for quite a while, there are still very many among our friends and neighbors who have no idea how incomplete any part of this process really is. There are still many among us who voted 'yes' because they thought it would include a new school system.
Of course EVERYONE wants their fat property tax cut first and foremost.
My interest is to ensure that 4 years out we don't replicate the Dunwoody 911 fiasco or foolishly contract with some other tiny municipality for 'special services' when those services are available through the same channels manned by the same people who have full working knowledge of our area.
This is a one-shot deal and the money will not be able to multi-task. I don't trust those with an eye on 'profit' to decide.

Eric, I know the truth is going to be hard to accept, but Sandy is spot on with her comments. It will take more officers and more $ for the new Brookhaven police department to provide the level of service expected by those who vilified DeKalb County and police. Chickens are coming home to lay expensive eggs.

You are truly an A.

J Max wants to eat your parks.

Ms. A Resident, you voted for HB 636 and the Vinson study is not mentioned in HB 636. Your new elected officials, regardless of who they are, will do as they please with regard to the formation of this new city. Anything else you think you voted for was advertised by Brookhaven Yes and may or may not be relevant to how it is actually implemented in this new city.

Please pass the yellow mustard!

Hamburger you are correct, the CVI numbers are projections, to be used in an advisory fashion. And while I don't expect candidates to make absolute decisions before having all of the relevant information in front of them, i would prefer the people elected go into this favoring the staffing levels projected by CVI rather than staffing levels based on a national standard cited in by the Dunwoody Police Chief to argue for increased funding for his budget.

Yes both levels (53 officers vs. 100) may have a reasonable basis. However if that were the sole difference between candidate A and candidate B I would choose the candidate that feels starting with a level closer to 53 officers is the way to go.

A,
53 officers was a made-up, imaginary, inadequate number to satisfy the artificially low tax millage numbers.
53 officers represents about 60% of what is currently available through the 'city' on any given week now.
53 officers guarantees reduced protection and increased property insurance ratings (as the crime rate inevitably climbs).

The numbers were readily available throughout the runup to the emergency-lets-do-it-now-before-people-figure-out-what-a-terrible-idea-it-is-VOTE.

Ignoring the facts and constant cheerleading will not put enough officers on the ground, and it won't take long until established criminal elements migrate to more 'friendly' territory.

You got what you asked for, it just probably isn't what you wanted.

Is Zanny Murray supposed to be Sandy Murray?

I cannot find anything about a Jim Eyre campaign, is that the correct spelling?

PATCH: Where can I see a current candidate list?

JimForBrookhaven.com

Ron Dowling,
The Candidate List is on the Dekalb County Elections Website (I don't have the link but Google 'Dekalb County GA Elections'.

Now you and everyone else that is Honest can see why Sandy,Larry and Jim are running, so they can damage the city when it first starts up.

You are trying to make something of nothing. You fool. Your posts are horse crap.
You are an A for sure.

As the inadequate 'vision' of the CVI study become obvious (and as people come to realize it's true, CVI provides the feasibility of what you ask for, not what you need) the folly of what the handful of neighborhoods north of Peachtree forced on the rest of us will undoubtedly lead to substantial citizen disquiet.
I sure am glad we discontinued tar-and-feathering because it would cost a lot to buy that much tar and feathers.

Whether the study is correct, or needs adjustment, can only be determined in hindsight. If Zanny and Jimmy get their way, they'll distort the vision which the majority of those who voted expected to be implemented. It only makes sense to start to with the study model and adjust items as needed, NOT as politically expedient to be elected. Zanny and Jimmy's views endanger the vision. We need to keep them out of office.

" CVI study envisioned...Murray is openly challenging that vision."----A Resident

So? You admit the "CVI Study" was not a study and instead a "vision."

Per the information supplied to the supposedly independent CVI by BY.

Is it no surprise the(ir) "vision" is only paper deep?

A,
And when the 'vision' for adequate Police protection proves to be woefully inadequate, we are required to 'break the cap' with a referendum.

Are you in the election services business?

Why stay attached to something that was clearly a sales tactic used to sell a bad idea to people who refused to READ THE DATA. We're past electioneering and into putting together a public safety apparatus......
.....Which WILL be much more expensive than promised.

Look, we can piss on each other all day about how many police we need. I understand why people may think we need more than 53 because we have more poverty in Brookhaven than Dunwoody does and because after several years the Dunwoody Police Chief wants to hire more officers. But its also true that Dunwoody has seen an increase in police presence and a reduction in crime with its current level of Police Officers than it had under DeKalb and the proposal in the CVI proposes more officers for Brookhaven than Dunwoody and we have fewer lane miles of roads to patrol, no huge spike in daytime population and no responsibility to police the Interstates that Dunwoody has. And frankly the Crime on the supposedly "high crime" area of Buford Highway is really only high in comparison to other parts of Brookhaven, but in comparison to other parts of DeKalb its very tame. Last time I remember or see someone getting shot on Brookhaven's portion of Buford Highway was last May when the guy walking early in the morning out of his complex to catch the bus to work was shot in the leg by some jerk who robbed him of his wallet. A very serious and unfortunate instance, but indicative that the most dangerous thing on Buford Highways are the cars.

Mr. Eric, based on some conversations I have had with folks in district #2 you may be underestimating crime issues on Buford Highway. However, from where I sit that is their problem, not mine. I just want to avoid the tax hit once they start raising Hell.

Special hamburger?

Hamburger, yes, I've heard from some people near there that crime is a problem . Perhaps there's a problem with crime mapping. Then again for some people in District 1, crime is too high. Shoot now i'm probably jinxing myself and I'm going to find my car broken into or worse (anyone reading I don't leave things of value in my car so please don't break my window) .

But yes one person's perception of a high crime level may not be mine. I don't hold any firm position as to who is correct. I'm just summarizing the result of my admittedly non comprehensive research combined with my personal opinions both or either of which may not be entirely correct.

And it is true some one shot the clerk at the Shell station on Buford Highway just North of Plaza fiesta and that the security officer/off duty officer had to shoot someone at the pool hall on Buford Highway in Doraville. An action that from the officer speaks blog site appears to be a very professional and perhaps lifesaving action by all the officers involved.

Mr. Eric, the pool hall shooting was adjacent to the Crawfish Shack on Buford Highway just past Dresden in what is now unincorporated DeKalb.

Crawfish Shack you ask? Very good for the little “food shack” that it is, but be prepared for a long wait if you decide to go during peak times. The boy needs better kitchen help. Let’s keep the food delights of Buford Highway our secret, OK?

Please pass the yellow mustard!

Oh I got turned around when i saw that Story, was thinking it was at that older center on the West side of Buford Highway just north of where Shallowford crosses it. Hmmm, that's near the Shell Station, different types of shootings but still two shootings.

I've seen the Crawfish Shack but have never stopped in, I'll put it on my list. When down there I'll go for seafood at Mariscos La Riviera Nayarit which is in the newer shopping center where Aldi's is. Also like the sample platter and rolling my own spring rolls at Chateau Saigon. And there's a decent rotisserie chicken place in Plaza Fiesta and of course Lee's Bakery.

Come to think of it the Buford Highway section in Brookhaven is kind of lacking in terms of dining or at least places I like to eat at. The buffet place in N.E. Plaza is decent if you are hungry - a good selection and it seems clean enough. There's the long time Panchos and Rusty Nail but I've never eaten in either place, nor at the Pink Pony which I've heard so much about here ....Have gotten good food at the stand inside the El Progresso #6 grocery but that's not a restaurant.

Hamburger is right, the Crawfish Shack is very good (try the lobster roll), but the waits can be long.

Mr. Eric, I told you to keep the food delights of Buford Highway a secret! By the way, the bad thing about Pink Pony is that they have nekked women in there . . .

Please pass the yellow mustard!

Mr. Dean, I am always right . . . You’ll see . . .

Where the Hell have you been? Involved with your additional layer of government I hope?

Please pass they yellow mustard!

Yep, I've been busy, including volunteering some of my time for the Brookhaven effort. It became clear that slogging in the muck here on the Patch with you and Don Garbage is mostly wasted time.

Dean-O,
Unlike Bean-O actually gives me gas.

Mr. Dean, good for you , kind of makes up for your lack of involvement with your old government . . . You know, one level down before this new layer was added!

We must be on different committees because I have not seen you.

Special hamburger and a Cheerwine?

Roger That,
Look down your nose but I'm sure when it comes to percentages, you are more of a 47'er than a 53'er.
Dekalb is recovering from the 'vernon era' when certain distasteful activities became accepted. Things like code enforcement or general adherence to rules depended on how big the envelope was.
Things ARE improving.
But soon that will pale in comparison to the dog-and-pony-show around us.

Roger,
I've probably lived here since you were in elementary school.
1%er, so that's why you whine about taxes so much!

Roger,
Taxes schmaxes.
I'm looking forward to January when the Federal Marginal Rate on all types of income returns to a realistic and appropriate 43%.
That will stop all of this property-wealth tax silliness.

You are 100 percent right,

'Because we can'.
All because the County would not submit to the OnePartyState.

All because the County is being run as a liberal jobs program for the politically connected with little regard for efficiency.

Dean Matthews,
Not you again. More of your FUD.

Dean,
Snatching away a little fiefdom does not change the majority voting pattern for the area, one that will always resist the OnePartyState.

Phil, Apartment dwellers do not pay property taxes. They do however get screwed by your Franchise fee's.

Eric my reasons for perferring the county over D'ville, D'woody and especially Chamblee have to do wth training. Would your opinion be different if you were forced to take a doctor with half the training of your current doctor? The county spend alot of money and time training their officers; about twice that of everyone else. They also get alot on continuing education. I think the assumption is made that all officers and all departments are the same in the levels of training and capabilities and that is far from reality. You said you see D'woody police more and crime is down but their chief said in his annual report that overall crime was down less than 1%. The north precinct by comparison had double digit drops in violent and property crimes. The D'woody chief also stated,"I am concerned about the SERVICES our department currently DOES NOT OFFER but should..." Chamblee citizens pay more in taxes for the enhanced service delivery and their chief told a DECA rep,"there is always the possibility that we may need a SWAT team. DeKalb County has had an excellent one and it would be foolish for an agency our size to try and establish one and keep folks trained to the necessary level." Both of these guys seem cocerned about services they don't provide but the county does. Why are we bent on downgrading our police service?

Apartment dwellers pay property taxes, Grieg.

Their rents include a pro forma property tax that is paid just like everyone else.

Enuff,
I thought you had been paying attention.
Dekalb is 'evil' and 'privatizing' will make everything wonderful, better and cheaper.
I've never looked into the economics, but there must be a HUGE profit in running a semi-private Police department.

RON! STOP LYING TO YOUR DADDY.

"...'privatizing' will make everything wonderful..."---Eddie E.

It reminds me of the, at one time, MxGov's Telmex being "privatized" by the then President of Mexico, Salinas de Gortari, who simply gave Telmex to his long-time
sycophant in politics, Carlos Slim, oftentimes reported since to be the wealthiest individual (front for Salinas and his long-term entourage) in the world.

Soon after Slim was made Telmex's figurehead, every three or so telephone cards (which given the astronomical installation costs of a phone line in Mexico is the overwhelming mode for making calls in Mexico) would deliver only a fraction of the time purchased while falsified (in Mexico) time records for long distant calls to Mexico would result in astronomical charges to the long-distance caller stateside.

To punish US phone companies that complained, Telmex simply disallowed (and I believe still does) collect calls to the states giving the reason that the US phone companies would steal the money collected (rather than use it to justly reimburses callers?).

The initial trick, when Telmex was 'privatized', was pulled on Japanese investors who were lured to invest in thousands of coin-operated public telephones as an act of generosity to a "3rd world" country (reeling from devaluations and a reputation or reneging on its contracts) creating a "new modern nation"---even while Telmex was quietly preparing the way for the telephone-card only public telephones installed instead.

The Japanese responded by pulling out of their hotels and golf courses in Mexico which was just fine with the MxGov which simply gets the properties back to resell again.

And again.

Simply projecting their own vices on others.

Sound familiar?

So? Yes. Privatizing can be "wonderful."

For those who "privatize."

Welcome to 'corporatist' governance.

It's impossible to deliver the services they promised without a 3.35 millage rate which will result in increased taxes.

There you go again. FUD.

So which is it:
Face reality and accept the notion of our guaranteed huge tax cut was a myth?

or

Get real about the cost of services and the necessary tax increase?

or

Attempt to do everything on the cheap and rely on the cheerleaders to continue with the 'but it's OUR city' nonsense as we grind into irrelevance?

You can only pick one.

Mr. BM, is this the Dunwoody Chief of Police report you are thinking of? This report definitively makes your point.

Chief Grogan threw away his crystal ball . . . He is relying on demand for actual staffing needs.

http://tinyurl.com/7rjpykb

Please pass the yellow mustard!

Of course I have, months ago. So how many years has Dunwoody been operating with there current staffing levels?

Anyway, as I've said, what Grogan says he needs and what he really needs are 2 different things. The job of the council and mayor will be to decide how to allocate the resources. It may well be that we need more than 53 officers (note I think SWAT should be outsourced either to DeKalb or the area city coalition and I think DeKalb should not have 2 helicopters - heck the metro region should have 2 helicopters, perhaps that should be a state function).

Whatever the decision for the initial staffing level is should be on the low end as its easier to add than it is to subtract.

That is the reason to elect J Max DAVIS mayor,He not the three time democrat Loser will not run the city over the cliff before it is Even started.

You are right.

“Given that everyone's solution to staff detective positions, SWAT teams, tactical units, bomb squads, sniper teams, and all of the other commonly-needed city police services is to outsource them to surrounding departments, I wonder what the cost of all that will be and whether Ms. Murray has considered it in her police budget. If she doesn't think DeKalb County will try to gouge BHPD, she should think again.”

WTF? I find folks taking exception to Ms. Murray’s thoughts on this matter amusing. She was not a part of the Brookhaven Yes crowd profusely promoting a new city; it appears as if she is simply suggesting ideas that she feels will meet the needed safety requirements of this new city. Clearly, it appears that if Dunwoody is running a staffing shortage, Brookhaven, with its additional crime not factored into the Vinson study, may be behind the eight ball from the day the police department starts its operations.

Furthermore, Brookhaven Yes promotes a full service police department and you question Ms. Murray’s “budget” inclusive of special policing units like SWAT teams, tactical units, bomb squads, sniper teams, etc.? How ridiculous! How about questioning Brookhaven Yes and their Vinson study about what their budgeting was and their super secret special committees about what their plans are for the new city. I think Ms. Murray is dealing with a hand of cards Brookhaven Yes has dealt all of us with. There is a Big Time train wreck getting ready to happen in Brookhaven. And, the train wreck will not be on the Norfolk Southern line traversing this city.

This is specifically why I am voting for J. Max Davis and Rebecca Chase Williams. They pushed this city hard and I am going to make sure they get to be the ones elected to deal with all of the disgruntled citizens that realize their mistake in voting for it. I want to give Brookhaven Yes and Rep. Mike Jacobs the recognition they crave.

Special hamburgers and a cool Indian summer night go together. So does a little midnight swim in Silver Lake! I hope J. Max is not on golf cart patrol!

Mr. BM, you are delusional.

Fool!

Forget the Vinson study! Are you one of those that think those numbers are actually relevant? Maybe you should pull your own study!

Ben, I thought you were actually smarter than that!

Please pass the yellow mustard!

BM,
You seem to be under the delusion that discussion of this idea just started this week.

Many of us who have opposed the lunacy of municipalization from the beginning have done so BECAUSE of the glaring inconsistencies in the overly trusted CVI study and the omitted additional public safety costs. Inclusion of all normal and reasonable costs clearly demonstrate the public safety costs predicted in the study are grossly inadequate, however, inclusion of the costs proves the 'city' is not feasible.

All of this will become quite clear over the next six months.

Eric,

Word has it that the Romulans are hiding out in the old GM plant.

Ha! Are they working with the Borg or hiding from them? Resistance is futile.

Hi Eric,
The trend has been militarization of all police forces.....each municipality being sold a bill of goods since 9-11 believing a terrorist threat is lurking on every street corner. From some of the comments, it looks like the pro city folk are itching to spend on this same load of crap. It will be interesting to see how the proposed budget takes into account all the vehicles, maintenance and related police equipment ( weapons, bullet proof vests, etc. ) that we will need to equip this elite crime fighting force some are envisioning.

Hello Maven. Mike Jacobs is a sitting State Representative and should have taken a neutral position. Instead he led it. Bad karma and terrible ethics.

BM,
I was 'there'.
After mikey jumped parties and became dan weber's shadow, it was obvious a close eye needed to be kept on him.

I know the CVI was cooked to show what C4ND wanted it to show (why else would they have bought it?).

I know there was nothing but stonewalled resistance to procuring a parallel study from the Andrew Young School at GSU, as they are not quite as compliant as CVI.

I also know those who had set their minds on this goal didn't want to be made aware of the existing facts, mikey had promised them a fat tax cut and that was good enough.

As to Smyrna, vaguely similar footprint and population? Long established municipality? It was in Cobb County so their data must be correct? I never delved into why, just that the comparison was obviously faulty.

"Mike Jacobs is a sitting State Representative..."---Grieg Ericsson

A pub's stool doesn't count.

"...and should have taken a neutral position. Instead he led it. Bad karma and terrible ethics...."

The worse; and he will be called on it.

"...dan weber's shadow, it was obvious a close eye needed to be kept on him..."---Eddie E.

Even if Weber kept an eye on him, it would have made no difference.

Every member of that entourage treads in shadow---and not just eachother's.

BM,
On that we certainly agree.
The reason I found the use of Smyrna as a comparison at the time confusing is the very simple fact that using Smyrna's force size, per-captia coverage and similar crime statistics seemed to prove the comparison to be faulty or at least prove the assumptions in the CVI faulty (adding the Dunwoody and Johns Creek numbers had no real basis in reality for the area being studied).

In short, the study would reflect the Smyrna numbers (and we would budget for 100 Police officers) and there would be no 'new city'.....

Or we base the Police coverage requirements on a similar population (anywhere in north Georgia) with similar crime statistics and throw in the names 'Dunwoody' and 'Johns Creek' as if proximity to those municipalities would magically reduce our needs.

I guess my vagueness was confusing but since the RESULT of the CVI study seemed to draw no value from Smyrna, I don't know why Smyrna was chosen.

Smyrna and Chamblee are unlike Johns Creek or Dunwoody in that they have jails. I can't tell from the CVI numbers if those positions are considered part of the Police Staff though I see the budget is separated. http://www.smyrnacity.com/index.aspx?page=751

Also Smyrna is bigger at 16 square miles vs. our 12 square miles and has a slightly higher poverty rate, though frankly it from visual observation point of view it seems larger, perhaps that's because much of those living under the poverty level live in a fairly concentrated area, which assists in policing needs.

But its difficult to draw absolute conclusions based on the poverty rate. For instance Brookhaven's population living under the poverty has a higher % of first generation or recent immigrants and this group tends to have a lower crime rate than those that were raised in and continue to live in poverty.

Smyrna has a jail dum-dum- that is where their extra officers come from. ( ha, just made up a rhyme/rap)
Extrapolated out their patrolling officers would be similar to Brookhaven's.
B-Yes wasn't even formed when the study was commissioned so they couldn't have influenced the Carl Vinson academics. Where do you loons get that Carl Vinson was influenced or bullied to write a false report by anyone? Do ya'll have any objective facts to support such a crime? Not circumstantial or "sitting at my computer all day combined with a paranoid world view summons my conspiracy demons" evidence- but real stand up in court facts?
I just love the "I was shut out of the process" or "I really want to volunteer for the committees but can't because all my web-savy-ness goes out the window so I can be a victim". (thumb sucking sound here) comments.
Patch - You are welcome for the toddler- like drama that will now commence.

nonsense,

Would you like to see the emails that went into developing the CVI?
They are all available on GORA and it isn't pretty.

Nobody said this came from byes, no it was their predecessor C4ND that ordered the study (and defined it's parameters) and then paid for it (using money from donors that remain secret and may well have included funds from the FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES that now want to sell services to the city they helped buy into existence.

You really can't be that dense.

Reason Syrna was chosen is the similar population and poverty rate.

Eric,
I could eat a bowl of alphabet soup and poop a better argument than you can make.

Eddie,
Regarding the GORA reference on the incorporation documents. Particularly where J Max states that he wants to make a city of Brookhaven no matter the cost. And where Mike J says to Ted Baggett at the CVI to make the numbers for the people on the North side look good. Basically telling CVI what he wants the outcome of the CVI to look like. After all, he was the customer. Sleazy Bast3rd5.

From the Smyrna web site, "..92 sworn officers, 20 full and part-time jail employees, 19 full and part-time communications officers and 10 administrative staff .."
DeKalb's north precinct provided more officers.
The work load for Smyrna, "Handling 50,903 Police.. calls..911" and the work product "2010, The Smyrna Police Department investigated 1,910 vehicular accidents, issued 19,937 citations and made 3,298 criminal arrests."
DeKalb's north precinct reported handling some 164K calls, issuing 33K citations and reported over 6,600 arrest.
Smyrna is home to 51,271 residents while Brookhaven is said to have 49,188
Smyrna is approximately 15 square miles and Brookhaven is approximately 12 square miles.
City of Smyrna's current millage rate for residential and commercial property is 8.99 mills
Smyrna Police budget $6.6M for 2011
http://www.smyrnacity.com/index.aspx?page=694
Our police dramatically out performed this comparable city in calls for service, in citations issued and arrest made. Why are we so determined to downgrade our service?

Other dum- dum- You inadvertently prove the opposite of what you try to assert. Smyrna has 92 sworn officers, 49 of whom don't patrol. North precinct is more than twice the size ( population and area) of both Brookhaven and Smyrna so how does that comparison jibe? Exactly twice as many arrests for an area twice as large.
Smyrna Budget 6.6 million. What is Dunwoody's and what is the estimate for Brookhaven? Now what is Dekalb's portion for the 50,000 living in Brookhaven....? Oh , they can't tell you. Dunwoody figured it out - they were paying 13 million before incorporation now they pay less than half that and have more coverage and response times have been cut in half.
Same old same old

Your last two sentences help define why the Public Safety Budget doesn't work.

Mixed up maven- you are superimposing references and data that do not address your original assertion that Brookhaven should have 91 officers like Smyrna. Of course they excluded jail costs for Brookhaven. They didn't delve into Smyrna's budget for officers on the street just numbers needed to patrol. Once you understand that Brookhaven won't need officers to staff a nonexistent jail you can see that Smyrna ,excluding jail staff, has similar numbers for what Brookhaven might need.
Of course GORA ,whatever the heck that is, stands as court wothry evidence of a conspiracy. Why not just post the primary sources to which you, or GOJIRA ,refer?
Same old same old.

Do you have any documentation to show that BYEs or c4nd improperly influenced or bullied CVI? I think that is what you and the loony bin ridng in the MAZDONLY clown car have been a sayin'.

nonsense,

Recorded, factual information is just that.

Some would hide it and others will ignore it, but the eventual result will tag back to the rotten root.

nonsense,
The staffing level of any jail will hardly be HALF of the sworn officers in ANY municipality.

Yet another straw-man dodge that has long been put to bed.

Roger That,
When I first learned to weld a few decades ago, jails and nuclear reactors were the two items I promised myself never to be involved with building.

Mr. Tom, maybe you could share that – about the bullying part – with Mr. Phil . . . By the way, is Mr. Phil a gentleman?

Please pass the yellow mustard!

interesting ideas - t
1)"Policing via bicycles". - If just between Blackburn and MC probably not enough need/justification for dedication of an officer. The one area with enough density would be in District 4 or the Buford Highway Corridor, though Buford Highway is a disaster for bikes. GDOT just announced a major pedestrian improvement for the stretch between the COA line and just North of N.E. Plaza unfortunately it doesn't cover the critical area between N.E. Plaza up to Clairmont where most of the people live. Or Town Sembler down Peachtree to Dresden and/or Lenox Park - though we may need some bike lanes for that

2) "Foot patrol?"
If we had sidewalks on Buford Highway i would see this as an ideal spot for a Foot Patrol. Too bad Town Sembler isn't closer to Dresden, that could be an ideal foot patrol. Perhaps it could be a bike patrol.

3)"Patrols, a 2nd station anywhere, even in an empty retail storefront? This goes to presence."
At only 12 square miles I don't see a need for a 2nd station. And one question I have generally about the opening of new stations as DeKalb proposed to do off of Bragg is don't they end up requiring more staffing? I'd rather have the officer sitting in the car (preferably with the car not idling) than sitting in a mini station somewhere.

Here's an option you missed (although since they were not contributors to BYES they probably wouldn't be considered).

www.jalopnik.com/5932593/the-indianapolis-police-have-the-cutest-little-electric-cop-car-ever

It could be useful for the incessant District 1 nuisance calls.

Actually Eddie, since we don't police any interstates, I wonder if we could look to smaller or more efficient police vehicles - though in this world of standardization i suppose it could end up costing more to get a more efficient police vehicle that has the necessary computer and emergency equipment. Then again with a city of only 12 square miles, not every police vehicle necessarily needs to be able to transport suspects/arrested individuals.

Eric,
If they're good enough for Indy then why not?

But they didn't support BYES so I'm not sure if they would be up for consideration.

Mike,

Of course, we CAN trust DCPD and they CAN do it for less money.

But that fact has been lost in the rush to the cliff's edge.

Based on the comments I can hardly see anything about this city being fiscally responsible. I doubt the pro-city residents envision second hand police cruisers for their utopia. As a matter of fact it seems like everyone wants more for less.....a common theme which will only balloon budgets. Is the goal of our police force to keep us safe or to make us "feel" safe? Think about it.

Just don't get the used Police cars from Chamblee.
They have seen much better days.

Rodgering,

I don't care what the SC says on this issue, B-YES said we get a SUPER-DUPER-CHEAPER Police force.

I expect nothing less. (after I get my GIANT TAX CUT).

The traffic officers for Marist and for the Y are working off the clock and paid by Marist or the Y. If that's not the case please let me know because that would be a huge problem.

Heck I already get bothered when some of the officers to heavily favor the folks leaving Marist and thus unnecessarily back up Ashford Dunwoody.

“Heck I already get bothered when some of the officers to heavily favor the folks leaving Marist and thus unnecessarily back up Ashford Dunwoody.”

Mr. Eric, that is because these off duty officers are working for Marist. You wait until Brookhaven has its own officers and you will find yourself complaining about the fundraising they do. You might want to party at home!

Please pass the yellow mustard!

Well apparently HamBurger I'm too self absorbed because I have a problem with private entities buying preferential treatment on taxpayer funded Right of Ways, at least that's EPU's take.

I swear sometimes people here just make me wonder about how our society functions.

Sure HamBurger but dishonest folks exist everywhere, its just an unfortunate part of life.

Mr. Eric, that is OK, I accept you for what you are . . .

Special hamburger and a Cheerwine?

(By the way folks, thank you for all the Cheerwine purchases, I enjoy the royalty checks!)

That's all I can ask Mr. HamBurger. Certainly I'm no closer to perfect than others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1kEKwCA9bc

Maven,

OR 'Brokehaven, if you knew what we were doing, you would just get in our way'.

EPU are you serious? That's your take away? geez.

Going a little overboard aren't you?

EPU my point was that I have a problem with private entities buying preferential treatment on taxpayer funded Right of Ways - at least HamBurger picked up on that hardly novel thought. And by saying "unnecessarily" and "some of the officers" I wasn't talking about all the private officers, yes most do it very well. I was talking about the times some of the folks heavily favor their employer's traffic over the general public.

OK lets look "closely" at my statement, here is what I wrote:
"The traffic officers for Marist and for the Y are working off the clock and paid by Marist or the Y. If that's not the case please let me know because that would be a huge problem.
Heck I already get bothered when some of the officers to heavily favor the folks leaving Marist and thus unnecessarily back up Ashford Dunwoody."

And of course they aren't the cause of rush hour traffic on Ashford Dunwoody. Though since Marist has a traffic light how does putting an officer there add to safety?

Fine maybe I didn't make my concern clear, but even after providing that clarification you go off on another rant. Funerals and Church Services?????? You're worse than Rush or Sean.

First I never complained about the officers directing traffic at the Y Soccer Fields, my limited experience indicates they have all done a good job. Granted there are a lot less cares leaving the Y soccer fields, and they don't have a traffic light. I also didn't complain about the Y facility, though I've never encountered an officer there.

But EPU I apologize for saying "Heck I already get bothered when some of the officers too heavily favor the folks leaving Marist and thus unnecessarily back up Ashford Dunwoody"

Especially since it was a silly throw away line tacked on to my comment that we weren't paying for these private officers (nor do I think we should because then the list of entities wanting the service would go on forever). And fair enough I shouldn't have tried to personalize the general point that some sort of oversight may be needed to assure that private entities do not negatively impact public ROWs by too heavily favoring their employers, even if most of the private officers do the job well.

I don't see anywhere where I advocated for Marist to leave. And as noted I made no complaint about the YMCA. And I never said boo about Senior Citizens.

Sorry EPU I didn't see this when I posted above, though I believe I answered it somewhat.

Its not a concern anywhere near the top of the list.

I think its great properties use private officers as long as its being done correctly. The Perimeter CID funded officers do a great job getting people through the Ash-Dun/285/Hammond intersections. If there is a problem I'm not aware of a property being to heavily favored at the expense of the general public then get someone to speak with the property owner or the officer about it.

Sorry EPU just saw this. I have been to but never used the Y, I joined a gym near work. And though I'm not much of a pool person I believe you and I'll keep that class in mind,