Downsizing New Haven’s police patrols isn’t on the agenda, but cutting the number of assistant chiefs might be.
So said Toni Harp on her latest appearance on WNHH FM’s “Mayor Monday” program.
Mayor Harp made the comment in response to questions about long-term efforts to close New Haven’s $30 million structural deficit. One suggestion has been to dramatically cut the 495-member police force by not filling dozens (or more) currently vacant officer positions. Harp argued against that idea, saying that a labor-intensive community policing strategy focused on walking beats has helped New Haven avoid the policing problems faced in other communities.
“Given what is going on in other urban areas across America, we don’t want to lose that,” she said. “You ultimately pay for that.”
She was also asked about the idea of cutting two of the four assistant police positions. She noted that New Haven went to four chiefs at the recommendation of an outside group’s recommendations for how to address a 2008 police corruption scandal. Now, she said, “I think that is something we can take a look at, whether we need all four.”
Her administration is focused on closing the gap by finding new revenue streams. She said one idea is to speak with Yale and other large nonprofits that don’t get taxed on personal property (like office equipment) about committing to an increase of their annual voluntary contributions to the city in conjunction with the extra taxes they would have otherwise paid on that personal property. She said she’s been speaking with the city controller about drawing up a five-year plan that includes calculations of such extra contributions.
She also said her administration continues to explore ways to compel the state to meet its full obligations to reimburse the city for lost revenue on tax-exempt property, through the Payments In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program.
Also on the episode of “Mayor Monday,” Harp:
• Said her administration intends to press the developers of the long-stalled “LiveWorkLearnPlay” plan for the former Coliseum site to get moving or find a buyer for the property who’s able to build there. The developers had originally announced an intention to have completed the project by now. It hasn’t even begun.
“From what I hear, they have been seeking financial support to do the project,” Harp said. “That hasn’t happened yet. We’re beginning to start to have some serious concerns about it. We’re going to have some serious discussions with them around whether this is something they really want to do.”
• Welcomed the news that Democratic New Haven State Rep. Pat Dillon won’t face a primary after all this year, now that Alder Darryl Brackeen decided to drop his planned bid to challenge her: “I served with Pat for 21 years. She is one of the most effective state representatives in Hartford. Her loss would be really felt by the city. So I thank Darryl Brackeen for having reconsidered that.”
Click on the Facebook Live video to watch the full episode of “Mayor Monday” on WNHH FM.
This episode of “Mayor Monday” was made possible with the support of Gateway Community College and Berchem Moses P.C.
Head in the Sand and Denial Notes: