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
Free bus rides cleanups security etc is not 13million a year it is 30million a year bringing our costs to150 million lost
Denise Meeks, do you not find it problematic that ridership on city buses has decreased since free fares came about. I was for them initially but it’s time to end this experiment. Nobody will ride public transportation if it’s not safe.
Enough with the “Tucson Crime Bus.” You continue to sound foolish and uninformed. Your cnstant whining helps nothing. Don’t like the bus? Don’t get on it. For many the free bus is a lifeline.
Law enforcement needs to return to it’s traditional function: law enforcement. We don’t need social workers and officers who go to homeless camps and then call “drug use interruptors” and “violence interruptors” who get in the druggies face or talk to gangbangers. Officers should arrest. If you’re caught with a gun,drugs, you get arrested and moved out of your location. We already have mandatory time crimes in Tucson if you commit a crime with a gun, deadly weapon, it’s mandatory prison time, if this is being enforced. Point is, do you want to know what the city is going to do with more tax money(in addition to buy trees for apartment complexes on the south side): look at what has happened to the Stonedgarden grants. Look these up. Look up how long they have been available. Look at why we don’t get the funds? Look at how much we are using? Why don’t we get them? The same police department that wants a tax increase rejects them because they are required to be used for traditional law enforcement purposes. And what will the city do with additional tax revenue, the same thing they wanted to do with Stonegarden funds. No on 414. Charge for the buses and ask for Stonegarden funds, direct that money to law enforcement and we’re back in business. Easy-peasy.
Oh hell no to any tax increase. We do not trust communists in the city council to do the right thing with what they already have. Should have voted for JL Wittenbraker folks. How cute that FD and LEO are out hawking the increase as a “safety” need. LOL. When at a recent town hall they couldn’t answer a question coherently as to why. Just send out the hot firemen and we will all swoon to vote yes?? NOPE. Town is a crap hole of despair and getting worse. An assault happened around the corner from me last week. Constant gun fire near by. Crime is heading north.Foothills here you go.
Have you guys looked at Ibgane treatment for the addiction people? Look up Joe Rogan and Rick Perry interview a couple months ago.
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