Parks (& City) in Dire Jeapordy

San Carlos is on track for a Vallejo style bankruptcy within two to five years.  Parks and Recreation is one to two years from elimination IN ITS ENTIRETY.  The proposed 20% budget cuts, if implemented, would, this year, eliminate 5 sworn police officers, close the youth center and leave us with the certainty that we will go through more painful cuts in the coming years, until finally, we would arrive in bankruptcy.  To be clear, Mark Weiss, City Manager, will have no choice but to close Parks and Recreation within one to two years on our present course. 

City Manager Weiss has developed a bold and effective fix.  Public Safety (police and fire) consumes a huge 60% (and growing) portion of the city's budget.  He proposes the 'regionalization' or outsourcing of Public Safety.  We have proposals from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department and Cal Fire (as well as proposals coming from Redwood City).  To our citizens all would appear the same.  And the intent (which requires confirmation) is that their would be no degradation in response time.  In fact the name on the cars, trucks and uniforms would continue to say San Carlos.  The savings from economies of scale require further investigation but appear large and credible.  And they would eliminate the need for cuts altogether.

I am a HUGE skeptic of government.  I am a rabid (fiscal) conservative.  I have been described as a Hun.  Back in January I dove into city politics. And it has been eye opening.  I can report that your city government is a well run, lean organization.  Your city employees, police and fire are amongst the lowest paid and will shortly be THE lowest paid on the Peninsula.   They do not deserve our ire.

Foes of this proposal made a STRONG showing at the council meeting. 'Parent age citizens' did not. The vehement opposition of the large contingent in attendance was electrically palpable in the room and in their comments. It will be a tragedy if you do not make your voices heard.  I spoke during public comment and directed the city council to view the polls on this site.  Parents, understandably, have a hard time getting out for five hours on a Saturday.  That is parent prime time.  But it will be shameful if we do not make our voices heard.  VOTE IN THE NEW POLL TO THE RIGHT OF THIS SITE.  The city council will be watching.  And then, we need to be in attendance on 3/22 at the next City Council meeting.