Facing large budget cuts that will eliminate hundreds of officers, Miami, FL residents are being told to buy guns and take other measures for their protection.
“If the mayor’s not going to provide security, then my recommendation, as an experienced law enforcement officer for nearly 40 years, is either buy yourself an attack dog, put bars on your windows and doors and get yourself some firearms because you’re going to have to protect yourselves,” police union president John Rivera stated. “We won’t be able to.”
Gimenez said if no concessions are made by the labor union, “then you’re looking at about 250 police officers” who will lose their jobs.
The police force will attempt to fill the gap, Gimenez said, by placing law enforcement staffers from administrative posts on street patrols. He wants the labor union to meet him in the middle.
“This is the amount of money that we have, and if I have to pay more for the employees at the end, we are probably going to have to have fewer employees, unless I continue these concessions and get a 15 percent reduction in our healthcare costs,” he said. “Then we can maintain most of the employees.”
The Miami mayor vowed that a tax hike will not be forthcoming regardless of what union concessions do or do not materialize.
“We will not increase the burden on our residents through higher taxes,” he said.
In addition to the police department cuts, the mayor also is proposing:
- reducing the library department by 200 employees.
- downsizing mowing and maintenance cycles in some areas.
- increasing attention to signal, sign, flooding and pothole repairs.
- reducing Zoo Miami hours.
- increasing bus and Metrorail fares.
- closing a golf course.
- postponing police officer and correctional officer training classes.
Specialized law enforcement units which focus upon tactical narcotics investigations, robbery and gangs would also be reduced.
Response time to non-emergency calls is expected to increase from 13 to 30 minutes in some areas due to the department cutbacks, The Miami Herald reported.
Rivera reportedly feels that the mayor was wrong to use hotel taxes to support a $350 million renovation at Sun Life Stadium.
“You don’t enjoy the safety and security you deserve. But you can certainly enjoy a Dolphins game,” the union president said.
Source: offthegridnews.com
Photo: NBCMiami.com
Sounds like they need help, sad their mayor won’t help.
THANK YOU. Coming from the law enforcement is pretty alarming not to have one. How is Obama fitting into this budget cuts? I’m sure he has a list already made up.
This is just the start!
I’ve done that for years except for the bars. My dogs takes care of the house.
Arrest Barrack Obama for Treason.
In our world, regardless of your religion, you can share love with each person you meet, with each word and with each action, or do something evil.
We have Immigration Laws. They have not been Repealed.
Shred each of Obama’s Executive Orders.
Repeal Obamacare.
Repeal the NDAA, the Patriot Act, the Monsanto Can Poison America Bill, and the Cyber Security Bill.
End Common Core Education.
Shut down the horribly corrupt IRS, EPA, and Bureau of Land Management.
End our stupid wars.
The Untied States should never support and finance Terrorism.
End the sanctions against Russia.
Get out of NATO, it has become only a War Machine.
Get out of the United Nations, the United Nations does not respect human life or individual Human Rights and Freedoms.
Fire Joe Biden, John Kerry, Eric Holder, and every one of Obama’s Appointees.
The United States is the land of the free and the Brave.
Vladimir Putin should not be the Leader of the Free World, but today, he is.
No Incumbents.
isnt that the obvious!!! arm yourselves
good..$#%&!@*’em…heard that they where criminals anyhow…
thank you congress for defunding our needed officers. Way to go ahole.
Just when you think our government can NOT be anymore corrupt..
Just waht Obama wants in America fighting for our lives Rebellion hope not before he is voted out of office along with his pet canines all of them