EVPA Column: Preserving Public Safety Services

By Scott Wiener

City Hall is engulfed in an important debate resulting from San Francisco’s budget deficit. One proposal being considered by the Board of Supervisors would cut almost $100 million from public safety and first responder services – the fire, police, and sheriff budgets. Although the Board understandably is looking at every option to address the budget crisis, and although every department has and will give back in order to balance the budget, we cannot afford to erode the public safety and first responder safety net that we have built in San Francisco.

Public safety is one of the most central and basic services that our government provides. Effective first responders are a major cornerstone of neighborhood security. All residents in all parts of our city and at all economic levels benefit from effective law enforcement and fire protection. For example, San Francisco’s homicide rate has decreased, and the police department has become more effective in combating gang activities – accomplishments which directly correlate directly with police staffing levels and the resulting ability to focus resources. Effective law enforcement helps people not just in wealthy neighborhoods, but in poor neighborhoods as well. It is a universal benefit to our City’s quality of life.

Similarly, a strong fire department is critical to our preparation for and response to the inevitable “big one,” or other natural disasters, as well as the day-to-day needs of people experiencing emergencies. San Francisco has been harshly (and justifiably) criticized for years for not taking strong enough emergency preparedness measures to get ready for future natural disasters. Emergency preparedness requires both infrastructure improvements and adequately staffed first responders.

This is not to say that the fire, police, and sheriff budgets are untouchable. Each department has given back in recent years, and they no doubt will do so in the future. But, to cut these budgets by almost $100 million is not the way to go. Closing fire stations and potentially reducing first responder staffing will not make our city safer and will only erode the basic municipal infrastructure on which we all depend. As this column goes to press, it looks like negotiations are beginning to enact a responsible budget that recognizes economic reality while not undermining neighborhood safety. I encourage our elected representatives to continue to support our first responders.

Scott Wiener is President of the Eureka Valley Promotion Association.

Copyright 2009 Castro Courier