The FY21 borough budgetary challenges are indeed indicative of a landslide. But some on the assembly think that “landslide” is an inappropriate metaphor. In about eight weeks Haines has gone from hearty, buoyant business optimism to an imploded visitor industry and no predicable timeline for recovery. Landslide is a perfect metaphor. Yes, yes tighten belts, bootstraps, or both. Kidding and tired metaphors aside, we’re in a perfect storm sailing uncharted waters. It’s not irrational to dip into that $10 million rainy day fund. Some dipping is OK.
Our borough’s Department on Steroids, however, isn’t museum, library or performing arts center. It’s the muscular, $620,000-ish/year Haines Police department (Dispatch service not included.).Do you remember what happened to policing after 9-11? John Law teamed up with the Masters of War and a landslide of firepower and money crashed into American municipalities to, theoretically, catch or kill Jihad’s. As we profiled and detained countless darker-skinned US citizens—hundreds not living to tell—it turned out that the enemy was sanity, constitutional “rights” to privacy, and Warren Court search and seizure laws.
These issues are way more complex than simply cutting the cops. We’ll always need professional, connected law enforcement, but muscular, Glocked-up, Tazered-up, coercive “policing” is about power and fear—nameless and unjustified—more than the public safety and well-being. Each week, don’t miss reading the exciting CVN Police Report and ask yourself: “Was the police service Haines received last week worth $12,000?”—roughly the average weekly HPD rate of expenditure.
Burl Sheldon,
h) 907-314-3439