A new plan could keep the Whalley Avenue police substation open, if neighbors raise enough money. How much money? It depends whom you ask.
News of the development came at the monthly meeting of the Whalley-Edgewood-Beaver Hill (WEB) management team Tuesday night night. Two dozen people packed into the meeting area at the Whalley Avenuce police substation, including State Sen. Toni Harp, State Rep. Patricia Dillon, city Chief Administrative Officer Rob Smuts, and several aldermen.
The substation, at the corner of Whalley and Norton, is one of three in the city that were to be closed or moved to a new location as a result of emergency city budget cuts. The plan was vehemently opposed by WEB, which held an emergency meeting last week followed by a demonstration at City Hall.
Edgewood Alderwoman Liz McCormack (at right in picture), told the group that she had put forward an amendment, supported by previously opposing Beaver Hills Aldermen Moti Sandman and Carl Goldfield, that finds some money in the budget to save the three substations. But even with the city tossing in some new money and the landlord agreeing to cut the rent, more cash is still needed. “Our job is to come up with the difference,” McCormack told the meeting.
Just how much money they would need to raise was the source of some contention.
Rob Smuts, speaking after McCormack, broke down the numbers. Rent and utility bills for the substation run around $21,000 per year. In a meeting with Smuts, the landlords agreed to lower the rent by $5,000 per year. The city agreed to put in $5,000 for rent, leaving $11,000 in rent and utilities that WEB would need to raise.
McCormack was a bit confused by this figure. She remembered agreeing with Smuts that WEB would need to raise between $5,000 and $7,000.
“I’m a little blindsided,” she said.
Smuts admitted that the $11,000 figure was somewhat inflated, since there is some flexibility on funds available for the $4,000 utility bill. “I absolutely need seven but I need to put it out as eleven,” he said, tipping his bargaining hand.
“There’s a common understanding that if it’s above $5,000, the rest will disappear,” WEB activist Eli Greer (pictured at right) later told the meeting, after Smuts had left.
Fundraising
Smuts explained that WEB would need to raise a significant portion of the funds by mid-June, but that the city would be willing to sign the lease on July 1 even if all the money was not in yet. As a local resident, Smuts personally pledged $100 towards the effort.
Smuts wasn’t the only one pledging money at the meeting. Total pledges of $2,200 came in by the end of the night. State Sen. Harp and Rep. Dillon each pledged $500 from their PACs (political action committees). The Hobart Street Block Watch pledged $500. The proprietors of a local Mobil station pledged $500. Another local resident matched Smuts’ pledge of $100.
To find the remaining money, it was agreed that Alders McCormack, Sandman, and Goldfield would draft a letter to send to local businesses, soliciting donations to keep the substation open. They plan to target, among others, United Illuminating, St. Raphael’s Hospital, Walgreen’s, Shaw’s, Citizens Bank, Wachovia Bank, and Dunkin’ Donuts.
Greer said after the meeting that he’s not worried about raising the necessary funds, given how important the substation is to local businesses interested in reducing crime in the area. “If I were Citizens [Bank], that got held up three times last summer, I’d write a $500 check without even breathing,” he said. He then rattled off a list of recent crimes in the neighborhood, including a hold up at Walgreen’s on Saturday.
Greer said he was happy with the outcome of WEB’s campaign to save its substation. According to Greer, the reversal of the closure was the result of 10 days of action, including two meetings, one demonstration, and dozens of emails. He called it “one more relentless achievement” of the WEB management team.
Complaints
While they were glad to have their substation potentially remain open, some WEB members were unhappy to be asked for funds to make it happen. “I’m sure the city can find the money to do this,” said one neighbor, who suggested that the city take $1,000 each out of five city salaries over $100,000. “I don’t think you should be taking money from all of us,” she said. “Our taxes are going up this year.”
Smuts replied that the situation was the “reality of the budget… This budget moves the city backward,” he said, “I’m not disputing that.” Smuts said repeatedly that the budget cuts require tough decisions.
Harold Hack expressed his understanding of the Smuts’ difficult position. Hack was representing Edgewood Corners, the non-profit agency that rents the substation space to the city. He explained that it was also a difficult decision for his organization to lower the rent in order to keep the substation. “Where we are is probably the most rentable place in the building,” he said, “and it’s bringing in the least money.” Hack said that other units in the building were rented for $4 – 5 more per square foot. “We’ve put our money where our mouth is,” he said.
WEB members were also concerned about the effects that the deal to save their station might have down the road. One member worried how the current decision would affect funding next year. B.R. Hammed-Owens, of Neighborhood Housing Services, called for a “more permanent solution,” saying the current deal was a “band-aid” and a “stopgap measure.”
Asked after the meeting if she is concerned that the deal might set a precedent for a similar situation next year, McCormack responded that she was “worried about getting through this one first.”
Thanks to all those who offered to help keep the Whalley Avenue police substation open. Continuing the substation in its existing location is absolutely essential to our neighborhood's efforts to improve this section of Whalley Avenue. The disappearance of the substation would mean a large increase in crime on the street and in the surrounding areas. Neighbors and businesses would lose heart. We must all do whatever we can to retain the substation on Whalley Avenue.