After Police Chief Kevin Vogel made his budget pitch to the city council asking for $23 million in funding for 2013, Councilman Ryan Coonerty had what might have been the line of the day.
Vogel pointed out how much money the department has saved with its high tech communications on the Internet, on its Facebook and Twitter and Youtube and Nixle sites, which are run for free and keep residents in the loop.
As he got up to leave, Coonerty told him:
"Get back to your Twitter and Youtube accounts. You are like the Justin Bieber of law enforcement."
In a more serious note, Councilwoman Lynne Robinson asked Vogel if he could add more policing to all of Ocean Street and particularly the lower Ocean area, site of two of the city's last three murders.
She suggested using more First Alarm contract employees, as is being done in the Harvey West and Downtown regions. He said he would consider it and get back to them.
You can watch this drama and comedy show live on your computer here or on Channel 25, Community Television.
"She suggested using more First Alarm contract employees, as is being done in the Harvey West and Downtown regions. He said he would consider it and get back to them." This idea of outsourcing policing to 1st alarm rent-a-cops is just plain dumb. My sister saw a 1st Alarm rent-a-cop having a chummy conversation with the hairy fat guy and his friends who hang out smoking next to the entrance to Zachary's. Why didn't he cite this guy for lighting up right in front of him? The 1st Alarm rent-a-cop is probably a smoker too, so he looks the other way for his scummy chain smoking friends. One of the developmentally disabled sweepers was sweeping up their cigarettes while the 1st Alarm rent-a-cop looked on, doing nothing. 1st Alarm rent-a-cops ignore the smoking ban in favor of their friends Downtown. He was way too chummy with this hair fat guy and his smoking friends. As I predicted, the City Council will try to save money by patrolling our neighborhoods with rent-a-cops. This is a slap in face to Santa Cruz police officers.