By Megan Burks
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We’ve told you how neighborhoods are crumbling after years of holding off on street and building repairs to contend with ballooning pension costs. Well, their services are dissipating, too.
According to Councilwoman Marti Emerald, budget cuts have put San Diego police at an officer-to-population ratio that’s second lowest among major U.S. cities.
On Public Safety
Despite a slim police force, City Heights saw an overall decrease in crime last year. Community members have built a strong relationship with its police division and fostered a resurgence of volunteer patrol groups.
But challenges still exist. Many residents still express concern about gangs and the community continues to make headlines for violent crimes.
And despite a strengthened relationship with police, some in the immigrant and refugee community are still wary of local law enforcement officers. And measures to improve trust among immigrants and refugees – diverse community relations officers and a multicultural storefront – lack stable funding.
What the Candidates Say
In case you couldn’t guess, City Councilman Carl DeMaio says pension reform is the key to restoring neighborhood services. He’s championed the Comprehensive Pension Reform measure, which would place most new city workers (except police officers) in a 401(k)-style retirement plan instead of offering them sometimes larger, more secure pension payouts. Republicans say the reform would end the city’s structural budget deficit, freeing up money for police and firefighters.
But DeMaio has said new police officers should also forgo pensions. Some have said that would make it harder to bring talented law enforcement officers to San Diego.
DeMaio said he also plans to improve public safety by propping up volunteer patrol and graffiti-removal programs. His plan would include a chief volunteer officer in the mayor’s office to aggressively recruit community volunteers.
In terms of local enforcement of immigration, DeMaio says on his website “he strongly opposes any and all efforts to make San Diego a ‘sanctuary city.’” One such effort in San Diego is a police department policy that prohibits officers from targeting undocumented immigrants in traffic stops and inquiring about citizenship status.
District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, who has the endorsement of the current and former sheriffs, has been a well-respected member of San Diego’s criminal justice system for decades, as a deputy district attorney, judge and district attorney. During her tenure at the District Attorney’s Office, she’s established narcotics and sex crime divisions, started a program to support minorities interested in criminal justice careers, improved diversity in the office, and helped pass state legislation that increased penalties and tightened restrictions for sex offenders.
Dumanis is also a proponent of the pension reform measure put forth by local Republicans.
Dumanis has focused much of her effort on a plan to improve schools, which she said would also impact public safety. “A quality education is one of the best weapons against future criminal behavior,” she said in response to a new initiative that encourages parents and community members to report truant youth.
Congressman Bob Filner does not support doing away with pensions to balance the books in favor of public safety services. He has said most city workers do not collect large pensions and don’t have Social Security to fall back on. He proposes reforming the city’s pension system in other ways, but has not released a detailed plan.
Filner’s voting history in Congress shows strong support for services that help limit recidivism and help offenders post release. He’s also voted down efforts to increase punitive measures for juvenile offenders. Filner has spoken out against Secure Communities, a federal program that relies on local law enforcement agencies to help detain and deport undocumented immigrants.
Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, who has the endorsement of the police officers association, also believes the Comprehensive Pension Reform measure is necessary so the city can better fund law enforcement and emergency responders. To further fund public safety, he recently introduced a state bill that would take fees that fund roadside call boxes and direct them toward public safety.
Fletcher touts Chelsea’s Law as one of his biggest accomplishments. He authored the law, which places harsher penalties and restrictions on sex offenders.
When it comes to enforcing illegal immigration, Fletcher told voiceofsandiego.org he thinks the federal government should fill that role.
Miss the previous installments of City Heights and the Mayor’s Race? Learn about redevelopment, education and streets.