Car Theft

Robin's Commentary

Well I am not at all surprised at this little article in the Springfield news referring to car theft in Eugene/Springfield area.

I was however surprised at the numbers.

Springfield population of 53,000
Between January 1 and August 31 of 2005, 214 vehicles were stolen which is a reduction of 53 cars or 20%. [And they're bragging about it]
That is an average of 26 vehicles a month.

Eugene, population 133,000
Between January and July 2005, 742 cars were stolen. [Now get this] that number is anticipated to jump to around 1500 by year's end. An increase of 61.7% over 2004
An average of 106 vehicles a month and is EXPECTED to rise to 126 vehicles a month average.

So what do we hear in the headlines of our local daily dead fish wrapper?

Do we hear about stings like those that Salem police is using to curb vehicle theft? Link No!

Do we hear that the DA is concerned about it? No! I do not think it is on their advertised list of items that they will prosecute.

Will the police protect your personal property? No! The police publicly stated that they would no longer respond to an alarm that is not witnessed.

We do hear that they will spend the time and resources to curb prostitution.

We do hear that they do not have enough money to do their job.

We do hear representatives from the city and Police departments on the radio stating that they will return full services if we give them the more money first.

So following the guidelines of "gimme the money and then I will do my job", the Public Safety Task Force reached a compromise of $24.4 million package of services to fight methamphetamine, [buzzword warning!] reduce family violence and improve treatment and prevention programs, but could not agree on how to pay for the package. Registerguard 9-9-05

The members of the committee did reach a unanimous vote agreeing that the Lane County Board of Commissioners should seek a tax other than property to pay for additional jail beds, rural resident deputies, drug treatment, youth-oriented crime prevention programs and other services.

Proposals included a combined personal and corporate income tax, a sales tax, and a property tax. Proposals to impose a sales or income tax and use some of the revenue to pay property tax rebates got vigorous debate as being "more saleable" to the public.

"More saleable to the public."

If you want to make it more saleable to the general public, then prove to us that you can actually manage the money that we gave you.

For example, take the $29 million for that new bus system that we do not need at this time and put it towards public safety. Oh wait, you can't, because that came out of different funds.

How about all those roads that you are repairing that on the surface (pardon the pun) do not look like they are in need of repair versus the ones with the huge potholes? Nope, different budget.

How far would $90,000 for a stupid LTD funnel decoration go? Whoops, there again, different funds.

The point is the monies available. It is all right pocket, left pocket it all comes from the same pair of pants.