[greenyes] Police cuts

["Peter Anderson" <anderson@no.address>]

Remembering my note last year about the cities having exhausted their "rainy
day" funds in 2001-2002, and the disturbing implications that will soon have
on continuation of recycling programs, we are now at that cusp if the
economy didn't pick up in 2003.  The following article below indicates that
police positions are being cut this year, and when that is happening, less
urgent programs like ours are likely to be in serious trouble.

    In that regard, be aware that the only reason that recycling APPEARS to
be more expensive than disposal is because EPA landfill regulations
deliberately avoid necessary measures to protect the environnment, and
thereby delay instead of prevent pollution. If we seek to save money through
elimination of recycling, we will be creating a massive $100+ billion
superfund cleanup in the future -- the present value of which is more than
$30 per ton, which implies that the true landfilling costs are more than
$60/ton, not $30/ton as they appear at the gate.  And, at $60/ton, not only
current recycling programs, but dramatically expanded ones to included
composting of the entire organic stream, would economically pay for
themselves.


Peter

Press Release


February 12, 2003

Fiscal Conditions Force One in Four Cities to Consider Police Cuts


Washington, DC, February 12, 2003 -------- Fiscal conditions in the nation's
cities have forced one in four to cut police positions or to expect cuts in
the near future, according to a recent survey of 322 cities and towns by the
National League of Cities (NLC).
The survey found that 16 percent of cities had cut police positions within
the past year and another 8 percent expect to cut police jobs in the near
future. Nine percent of cities said fiscal conditions had forced cuts in
firefighter positions and another 7 percent expected to make cuts in the
near future.
"These numbers underscore the very real threat to hometown America posed by
the federal, state, and local budget crises, which are all linked," said
John DeStefano, Jr., president of the National League of Cities and mayor of
New Haven, Conn.
"The federal government whose support has still not arrived and the states
who are cutting dollars to cities and towns due to their financial problems
are leaving America's hometowns to carry the burden alone."
Ranking the Nation's Top Priority
Asked to select the single top priority for the nation, 43 percent of
surveyed city leaders chose investing in local infrastructure and programs
to strengthen the economy.
26 percent chose ensuring homeland security.
15 percent chose disarming Iraq's weapons of mass destruction through
military action.
And 7 percent chose cutting taxes to strengthen the economy. 9 percent
selected other categories.
The National League of Cities is the oldest and largest national
organization for American cities. NLC serves as a resource and advocate for
18,000 cities, towns and villages of all sizes, from New York City to Bee
Cave, Texas, which collectively serve 225 million people. Visit
www.nlc.org.
Contacts:      Mike Reinemer 202-626-3003 or 703-966-9574; John Pionke
202-626-3051