City Hall wants $10 million for more police, today’s news reports.
That would fund roughly 80 police for one year at status quo compensation. But police contracts have built-in raises. So some of the money will emulate the White Queen, who had to run faster and faster just to stay in the same place.
The money can come only from three places: by robbing the Peter of other city departments to pay the Paul of public safety; from grants; or by debt reduction or restrucuring negotiated in AB 506 negotiations.
Those negotiations, alas, are confidential. It’s reasonable to assume the city has made some headway. But beefing up the police force still will probably mean severe cuts to other city services. One would rather suppress a murderous gang war than keep other services; but it’s a dismal choice.
