Important Facts About Your Safety
Ventura Police, Fire & 911 Response Time Improvement Needs
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Q: Why are public safety needs urgent in the City of Ventura?
A: Since 1990 Ventura's population has grown by 12% and the number of emergency 911 calls to the Police and Fire Departments has doubled without the City hiring more police officers or firefighters.
What is being done to address these needs?
The City surveyed residents and found a high level of support for a quarter cent sales tax to add 14 police officers and 11 firefighters and other equipment, facilities and prevention programs to enhance safety in Ventura. The City Council unanimously voted to put that proposal on the November 2006 General Election ballot as Measure P6. While 62% of the voters supported it, that was short of the 2/3rds required for passage. What else can be done? There are a variety of perspectives:
- P6 opponents argued the City should generate new revenue through business growth. Supporters countered that this is being done, but it is unrealistic to think that there is a sufficient buying power or resident support for the level of increased revenue needed.
- P6 opponents also suggested spending City reserves. Supporters responded that spending savings for current operations is not prudent business practice.
- P6 opponents also advocated changing the City's priorities to cut other spending to increase funding available for public safety. Supporters challenged opponents to show what programs they would cut.
What is the City's plan now?
The City Council is interested in listening to all sides to find a solution. Some have suggested trying again with a sales tax measure, while others say "What part of no don't you understand?" The Ventura County Star editorialized that in the wake of the election results: "City officials must now make some painful choices . . . Resources will have to be realigned. Some services might have to be scaled back, but wholesale, across-the-board cuts or dipping into the reserves should be ruled out."
Ventura County Star Editorial: Ventura Looks Ahead
Facts About Ventura's Public Safety
The Ventura Police and Fire Departments have the same number of officers and firefighters as they did 15 years ago, but emergency calls have more than doubled.
- Gang crime this year is up 180% for the first nine months of this year over the same period last year
- Almost 300 violent crimes were reported in 2005, an increase of 15% in a single year.
- Almost 75% of all 911 calls answered by the Ventura Fire Department are related to medical emergencies, particularly from our City's most vulnerable population of elderly residents.