Pricey gas: Fewer cops, more potholes

[marmar]

Cross-posted from the Public Transportation/Smart Growth forum: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=398



from CNN Money:


Pricey gas: Fewer cops, more potholes
Local governments grappling with soaring fuel prices scale back services citizens have come to expect.



NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- In what seems to be a perverse reaction to high gas prices, some cities are cutting back on public transit - at a time when their citizens need it most.

Due to skyrocketing fuel costs local governments are being forced to trim all sorts of services - not only busses - but police departments and road repair crews too.

The Montana Highway Patrol, after failing to find enough police recruits, is using $300,000 that had been set aside for more officers to pay the gas bill instead.

Sheriff's departments in Maryland and Florida have also reportedly cut patrol routes or officers.

"They're not going to fill positions because they don't have the dough," said Ronald Reucker, president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. "It'll mean more speeding, more drunk drivers, and more fatal crashes."

In a recent gas price survey by the National Association of Counties, 81% of counties responding said public safety was the area most impacted by high gas prices. Nearly half said reducing the number of vehicles in the county fleet are among steps being considered. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/15/news/economy/fleet_gas/index.htm?postversion=2008071508

[NightWatcher]

1. Atlanta just closed their oldest fire department and got rid of several fire and police positions

and getting rid of more than 190 other city positions.

Fire dept recruits let go
Police positions left vacant

[whistle]

2. Just keep spending billions in Iraq, Afghanistan and soon Iran, Pakistan

....Darfur and every other neocon created hot spot around the world and just watch how fast our public services, roads and infrastructure deteriorate.

[Lorien]

4. Oh, but haven't you heard? Pulling out of Iraq won't save us any money:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=156915&mesg_id=156915

:sarcasm:

[whistle]

6. No, not any more it won't because of the mess created by Bush and his cronies

...and which will continue under either candidate currently running. That's what happened in Vietnam and Nixon kept the war going at even higher levels of spending and lives.

[Lorien]

3. Crime was on the rise with the last Bush administration too

will the public ever learn that more Republicans= LESS public safety?? No, they just buy into the advertising.

[whistle]

7. Why is that I wonder, is it due to a missing special gene factor in republican minded idiots?

[raccoon]

5. Exactly, Marmar. And what about school buses this fall? And people trying to heat

their homes this winter?

Rec'd.

[marmar]

8. "And what about school buses this fall? And people trying to heat"

When you think about it, it makes you dizzy....and sick. :puke:

[Joe Stirling]

9. This is all part of the NWO plans

I know you,ve heard it before, but when are the sheople going to fight back ? Before the NWO raises the price of grazing ?

[RB TexLa]

10. Expect? I would never expect the police to respond to my call, nor do I expect a

municipality to repair potholes.