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Tax cuts -> cannot afford police on patrol -> outsource basic policing to private company -> police on patrol are only available to those who can afford it. An

by imron 11y ago

Tax cuts -> cannot afford police on patrol -> outsource basic policing to private company -> police on patrol are only available to those who can afford it. And how long before it then becomes "wouldn't it be a shame if something happened to your store..." Ah the wonders of low-tax, small government.

seivan 11y ago
Tax increases -> Diminishing returns -> Cannot afford police on patrol -> Police on patrol are only available to those who can afford it. Not to mention what happens when you realise that politicians don't want to spend on police. But who knows, maybe police isn't political suicide in SF.
- simoncion 11y ago
  > Police on patrol are only available to those who can afford it. Police already regularly patrol SF's streets. This program provides security-guard-esque services that include special, additional patrols of the exterior and interior of a building.
ageek123 11y ago
I guess you missed the part where it says this program has been around since 1847. http://sfpatrolspecpolice.com/history.html http://sfpatrolspecpolice.com/history.html
- desdiv 11y ago
  To be fair, the taxes were lower and the government was smaller back in 1847. /s
- imron 11y ago
  You're right, I did miss that part. That being said, I just find it bizarre that an essential police service is basically outsourced with officers who "are compensated by neighborhood merchants, residents, and associations or groups who contract for services and who can also join to share in the cost" Is it really that hard to just increase taxes/rates slightly in order to be able to provide this service across the board?
  - simoncion 11y ago
    These special patrols are on top of regular police patrols. You can think of this program more as a rent-a-cop-as-a-security-guard program. Part of the services provided are additional patrols of the exterior and interior of a building. Frankly, I would be really weirded out if SF made a habit of running patrol officers regularly through every building in the city.

by imron 11y ago

seivan 11y ago

Tax increases -> Diminishing returns -> Cannot afford police on patrol -> Police on patrol are only available to those who can afford it. Not to mention what happens when you realise that politicians don't want to spend on police. But who knows, maybe police isn't political suicide in SF.

simoncion 11y ago
> Police on patrol are only available to those who can afford it. Police already regularly patrol SF's streets. This program provides security-guard-esque services that include special, additional patrols of the exterior and interior of a building.

ageek123 11y ago

I guess you missed the part where it says this program has been around since 1847. http://sfpatrolspecpolice.com/history.html http://sfpatrolspecpolice.com/history.html

desdiv 11y ago
To be fair, the taxes were lower and the government was smaller back in 1847. /s
imron 11y ago
You're right, I did miss that part. That being said, I just find it bizarre that an essential police service is basically outsourced with officers who "are compensated by neighborhood merchants, residents, and associations or groups who contract for services and who can also join to share in the cost" Is it really that hard to just increase taxes/rates slightly in order to be able to provide this service across the board?
- simoncion 11y ago
  These special patrols are on top of regular police patrols. You can think of this program more as a rent-a-cop-as-a-security-guard program. Part of the services provided are additional patrols of the exterior and interior of a building. Frankly, I would be really weirded out if SF made a habit of running patrol officers regularly through every building in the city.