Letter to the Editor: Recall the City Council

What is going on in Watsonville? We spent $80,000.00 for a special election that could pay for one police officer or fireman for a year. We cannot afford to lay off one person from the Police or Fire department. Does the City Council know how much it cost to train police and fire personnel? Does the City Council understand that the Police Department is already down about 20 officers and other personnel? Does the City Council understand they are supposed to keep our city safe? Look at Measure T; it will do nothing for us. Here are some real statistics. In April the unemployment dropped to 9.2% compared to 12.2% a year ago. 1,600 new jobs in Santa Cruz County, 1,200 of them were from the farm sector, 200 from hospitality. 

Why don’t we work on getting the 200 jobs that was promised when the city gave Manabe & Ow $700,000.00 for that development? We may need to pass a Police Tax that could only be used for the Police Department. The Governor is working on a bill, where it would not take 2/3 vote to pass a tax for a specific need and the City Manager and / or City Council could not take away their budget because of the tax money coming in.

If the City Council does follow up, laying off our vital safety personnel (Police & Fire) then I say it is time to recall  two or three council members as they are not looking out for our best interest by Keeping Our City and Residents Safe. Come to the City Council Meeting Tuesday night May 21 and let the Council know how you feel about them taking away your safety personnel (Police & Fire).

NO on T  

NO on Laying off Police & Fire

Yes on City Council Recall

-- Bill Neighbors