TCFC Leader, Kevin Daily, Questions City of Tucson, Chief of Staff Lane Mandle and TPD Chief Kasmar on Prop 414
TCFC Leader, Kevin Daily, Questions City of Tucson, Chief of Staff, Lane Mandle with Chief Kasmar at Prop 414 Information Session
This blog written by Kevin Daily representing the Tucson Crime Free Coalition
I wish TCFC did not have to exist, but Prop 414 is yet another example why we do. Mayor and Council in the city of Tucson continue to not listen to the pleas of the citizens of Tucson. I attended an information session held at the Miracle Mile TPD substation last Thursday night where I was among a handful of other citizens that had a chance to ask important questions I did not feel people were asking.
A side note, for the first time at this meeting, city officials recognized TCFC for our successful advocating for the founding of the Transition Center working with Pima County as well as our successfully advocating $5 million added to this year's Naphcare budget so Sheriff Nanos can no longer use medical rejection as an excuse for his letting criminals go at the jail. The recidivism rate of individuals who use the Transition Center’s services shows a drop from 27% to less than 10%, saving taxpayers $940,000 in the first year.
TCFC advocates for adequate staffing and resources for law enforcement, treatment for those in need and prosecution for criminals that are unwilling to abide by our laws.
Tim Steller from AZ Daily Star was in the audience. Tim, as well as I, feel one of the most important points I asked was:
Tim Steller writes:
"On Thursday evening, I got to watch as Flowing Wells Neighborhood Association President Kevin Daily questioned Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmar and city chief of staff Lane Mandle in front of a small audience of neighborhood leaders. Daily is a leader of the Tucson Crime Free Coalition, which, paradoxically considering its desire for better police response, opposes the proposition.
The key point Daily made is that he’s seen no evidence that the City Council looked for waste or opportunities for savings before embracing this initiative that would raise the city sales tax rate to 9.2%.
“I never heard the council make an argument saying we need to make some choices,” Daily said. “All they said is we need more money.”
When regular people notice a shortfall in their finances or want to buy something expensive, we look for things that maybe we don't need anymore because circumstances may have changed. Streaming subscriptions are an example. Do I need all Hulu, Netflix, Paramount, Discovery and Starz autobilled? Maybe I can pare it down to two to save money? Maybe consider putting up with commercials to reduce cost? Maybe I decide to put up an antenna to get shows over-the-air. Maybe I look at other items I am being autobilled every month that I am no longer using.
What should be cut?
Steller says: "Naturally, I’ve asked Daily, Guymon and other opponents what they think the city should cut in order to spend more on public safety and solving housing and addictions issues.
The only firm answer they come up with is this: Start charging bus fares again.
The City Council stopped charging fares in 2020, with the onset of the pandemic and the arrival of big blocks of federal funding. After repeatedly reconsidering fare-free transit, the council finally decided to absorb the $10 million-$13 million-per-year cost into its general fund."
AS HAS ALWAYS BEEN TRUE: TCFC supports Sun Tran and Sun Link to again, as was historically done, offering reduced or no fare for those that cannot afford it.
Currently the FREE CRIME BUS is not an option for many including school children because of drugs and crime occurring under Mayor and Council current policy that has made the bus dirty and dangerous.
We here at TCFC don't know what should be cut but we do know that increasing the sales tax will hurt the most vulnerable in our community. It is well known that TCFC has been saying, "CRIME IS NOT DOWN, IT IS UNDERREPORTED." Tim Steller says in his article:
Mayor and Council Specifically Called a COSTLY Special ELECTION
It's going to cost the taxpayers over $1 Million to hold this special election. Mayor and Council could have put this on the ballot last November for lower cost but were concerned it would not pass. They are counting on low-turnout to make it pass.
Tim Steller continues:
"What I’ve heard Tucsonans say they want are three main things: Improved roads, better emergency response, and fewer disruptive street people.
The first, roads, is being taken care of gradually, largely under Prop. 411, a 10-year, half-cent sales tax that city voters passed in 2022. The Regional Transportation Authority’s projects, such as the East Grant Road reconstruction, are reaching their end as that tax expires in 2026.
What drives many people crazy these days is that when they call 911, they can’t be sure anyone will pick up. And if someone picks up, they can’t be sure emergency responders will show up, especially in calls needing police response. We have no idea how many minor crimes are going unreported simply because people don’t report them anymore."
Mayor and Council have also said over and over that the budget is at peril of a shortfall due to reduced state shared revenue as a result of the flat tax. There is good news here! The economy is doing better than what was projected. Sales tax collection is up 7.38% which means that the URS (state shared revenue) will be nearly 4% better than projected and the city is projected to have a $22 million surplus! Mayor Romero even reminisced in February 4th Study session about how the City of Tucson has been in worse financial shape and was able to navigate into a budget surplus. One might wonder why we can’t do the same again. Well I hope that Tim Stellar did at least.
CLICK HERE: for TIM STELLER (AZ DAILY STAR) article
How is it that city officials are advocating for Prop 414? This is a violation of the Hatch Act and is illegal.
Tucson’s problem is political and can only be solved at the ballot box. Pima County has numerous wealthy persons and small businesses that could contribute to dedicated persons who wish to change Tucson’s bleak political scene. Criminal Justice (judges, prosectors, law enforcement) and government administrators (city councils, county supervisors) are all subject to periodic elections and the judges are particularly vulnerable because few people know who they are let alone let alone their reputations in the administration of the law. I am 83 years of age and have no intention of running for political office but I am willing to offer advice and make a small donation if the right candidate should come forth. I do have some experience in this area.
You totally nailed it Kevin. Spot on !!!!!! We need a DOGE in Tucson.
Just say NO to more tax increases, the last time the tax was increased a promise was made to fix our roads but so far they are spending all the money on the Grant project which they claim it will run out of funds by 2026, and just look at the nightmare they created on the Broadway project between Euclid and Country Club, one person asking for the tax increase is someone related to the Rio Nuevo project (again) which that project is one more scam, we still remember the $ 248 million that disappeared from the project a few years ago so please play it smart and say NO to the tax increase.
Denise Meeks commented about the “free crime bus” and that there are people that need to ride the “free” bus. Nothing is free. And in this case it isn’t just the tax payers that are picking up the bill, it is the people that aren’t riding the bus because it is dangerous. I used to do “free” concerts and we found that when people didn’t pay for a ticket, they didn’t appreciate it.
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