July Message

President’s Message
By Karl Nurse

CONA scored a major victory at City Council this week! City Council spent 90 minutes debating whether to increase spending for our number one priority – additional community police officers. The issue was contained in the question of how much would the City Council LOWER the millage rate. The Mayor’s proposal of 6.95 mills, did not provide for any additional police officers including community police officers or code enforcement officers. The effort at city council was to set the millage at a higher level to provide the funds for community policing and/or additional code enforcement. Each additional 1/100 mill generates $130,000. 3/100 mills would provide 3 more community police officers (10% increase) and 1 more code officer.

The last time we reported City Council members positions on our agenda, CONA was attacked by name by some City Council members. Realizing the risk we take, it is our duty to let neighbors know who will stand with us on the tough issues. At the July 7th City Council meeting, here is how members voted on funding additional community police officers as explained above:

Consistently voted with us: Bennett, Flowers, Kriseman and Lasita.

Supported the compromise that provided some funds: the 4 above, Bryan and Littrell.

Opposed us consistently: Foster and Williams.

The final budget vote will be in September. Please contact your City Council member and explain why we feel so strongly about this issue. We don’t have to always agree. But, we do need to talk to them and them to us.

The Gandy Wal-mart fight will continue at City Council within 45 days. We stood with the neighborhoods of Gandy on this before and we need to before City Council. A speaker from the neighborhood will bring us up to date at the July meeting.

I hope to see you at the next meeting as we continue to stand up for neighborhoods, even when it is tough!