How Much Are You Willing To Pay For Extra Protection?

Any credible list of citizens’ concerns in Spokane probably will include taxes and public safety among the highest priorities.

But what happens when they come in conflict?

That’s happened several times in the past two years as Spokane city officials turned down offers of federal money with which they could have beefed up the police force.

Most recently, the city rejected $225,000 that would have put three new officers on the streets. The problem is that the grants pay only 75 percent of the personnel expenses - and that for only three years.

Accepting the grants means accepting the funding burden to sustain the new positions beyond those three years. In all, the city has forgone 33 new police positions available under similar conditions in 1996 and 1997.

Do you appreciate the city’s restraint or would you have preferred to see a few more uniforms, badges and nightsticks on our streets? Better yet, can you suggest a way to serve both interests - safety and fiscal moderation - at the same time?

Turn away from the trough

The issue above might have struck a chord with Jon J. Tuning of Spokane, judging by how he responded to Bagpipes’ questions about last week’s sparsely attended primary election: What message did the low turnout send and what information are you looking for between now and the general?

“The message,” said Tuning, “is that only 14 percent of the registered voters picked the two mayoral candidates we will now be able to vote for on Nov. 4. I need to know which candidate will attempt to turn the city away from the national government money trough.”

Special legislation was warranted

The Legislature was right to move quickly after the state Supreme Court said law-enforcement officers have no authority to check for outstanding warrants when they make traffic stops. The lawmakers held a one-day special session to provide the missing empowerment.

“It’s real important that they can (check for warrants) because I think there’s a good chance it could possibly save (people’s) lives,” said Marie Yates of Spokane. “I also say that if nobody has any guilt there’s no reason why it should upset you to be stopped.”

, DataTimes MEMO: “Bagpipes” appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. To respond, call Cityline at 458-8800, category 9881, from a Touch-Tone phone; or send a fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to dougf@spokesman.com. You also can leave Doug Floyd a message at 459-5577, extension 5466.