People overwhelmingly voted NO to the Jail millage proposal, and clearly indicated that the County ought to control costs and put a better plan together for the financial issues facing the County. We thank all the voters who showed up and exercised their right.
Voting is not just a right, it should be considered a duty of every responsible citizen. Let us not forget that many Americans gave their life so that we have this right.
Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County have joined hands to Intimidate and Scare Citizens Into Higher Taxes and Bigger Jails ?
It certainly appears that the government officials in charge of Ann Arbor are working hand-in-glove with the government officials in charge of Washtenaw County to make the case for higher taxes and bigger jails – despite the resounding defeat of the GIANT Jail Tax proposal this past February.
As voters may recall, one of the main reasons for defeating the GIANT-Jail Tax was the fact that crime rates are down
Now, let's review what actions suggest that the County is attempting to intimidate and scare the citizens into approving a tax for a bigger jail :
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Step 1 : |
Address the need by Ann Arbor’s administrators to extract ever more money from the City’s citizens and visitors by diverting police officers from crime-fighting duties to fundraising duties – specifically by issuing ever more tickets to Ann Arbor's citizens and visitors. Issue tickets for as little as five miles over the speed limit. Line up 6 or more squad cars at confusing construction sites (e.g., Ann Arbor-Saline & South Main last year and Stadium & Maple this year) to issue tickets to bewildered motorists (instead of having just one officer on site to direct confused drivers). |
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Step 2 : |
With fewer police to tackle crime, get the crime statistics up and make sure the public is aware of the "spike" in crime. See Ann Arbor News front page on July 17, 2005 – “Spike in crime has city, police talking – Oates cites economy, jail crowding, and fewer officers on the street”. |
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Step 3 : |
Blame jail overcrowding and lack of police officers available to fight crime. |
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Step 4 : |
Make sure the citizenry is scared about the "spike in crime." |
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Step 5 : |
Offer to resolve the "spike in crime" and alleviate the fears of the citizenry by either (i) raising taxes for a GIANT Jail and for additional police or (ii) cutting back on police services to pay for a GIANT jail (despite revenue increases for Washtenaw County equal to 4X the rate of inflation from 2001 through 2004). |
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This is not good governance. What ever happened to “protect and serve” ?
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Why are Administrators of Washtenaw County seeking additional taxes and, in lieu of additional taxes, threatening to cut services |
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