IPA or No IPA?

Independent Police Auditor, this is something that Mayor Autry requested many times in his tenure as mayor of Fresno and the issue has now returned. Every few months it seems something crazy happens in the Fresno Police Department and this issue comes back. I hear about about the officers that may have gone over board (and had the misfortune of being caught on tape) and the unit that got disassembled. It makes the idea of having someone keep and eye on FPD sound pretty good.

Then I read Brian Calhoun's reasoning for not hiring an IPA. I must say that he made a lot of sense, especially when talking about what they would do all year.

What would an Office of the IPA (generally an attorney with staff assistants) do 365 days a year? It is only human nature (and job self preservation) to appear busy. My guess is that the IPA would be a magnet for every disgruntled person wanting to contest a parking or speeding ticket. It would constantly be second-guessing elected officials, the chief of police and, possibly, the courts and grand jury. And how would this additional oversight operation differ from the City Attorney's office, staffed as it is with well-paid, competent attorneys that are fully prepared to investigate possible police malfeasence?

Calhoun also talks about Chief Jerry Dyer handling these situations well as the arise. I haven't seen anything that makes me question how Chief Dyer handles issues. My problem is why do these things keep happening? That is the argument for Fresno City to employ an Independent Auditor. But I think Calhoun has a great point. So couldn't we just bring in a consultant or someone on a short contract? Someone to analyze why these things keep happening and that exact the kind f institutional change that might be needed? Because what is going on now just doesn't seem to be helping.

Median Law Drama

Back in March I wrote about how Brian Calhoun wanted to criminalize beggars and those who would dare to help them due to the safety of the median. Well, Calhoun got the local law written and it failed to pass the City Council. The fun part in all of this is Calhoun's apparent attempt to save his "reputation". When it was clear he didn't have the support he attempted to pull his proposal from consideration even though it called already been called to a vote. Don't worry Councilman Calhoun, it is known to be your bad idea regardless.

Criminalizing Beggars and Those Who Help Them

Maybe that is putting it a little strongly;). The Fresno Bee had an article in today's paper about how the city is going to deal with those who panhandle on medians. It appears that the City Council intends to make it illegal for people to panhandle on the medians.

Calhoun said he hopes that City Attorney James Sanchez will write an ordinance that gives police officers authority to ask people to leave median islands on city streets, and to cite those who don't.

Calhoun also said that citing drivers who give money to panhandlers would further discourage the practice.

In theory I can really get behind this movement. It is a bad place to cause a delay but what is the feasibility of a law forbidding it? Are you going to put these people in jail? If I was homeless and needed shelter for the night I might break that law just for the jail. Or better, are you going to fine them? You might have a hard time collecting.

Then there is the other side of this. So if you support the "needy" you will get cited? I think this just further dulls people's sense of charity.

I also think there are further enforcement issues. How much will this cost the city in manpower? Will we allow them to do the same thing from the side of the street? Currently the Fire Fighters will have an exemption for their "Fill The Helmet" Fundraiser. But the premise of this is out of safety so how does all this jive? I guess we will see.

Sanchez said he would look at ordinances in other cities and what exemptions they allow before drafting new rules for Fresno to consider. Sanchez will present his recommendations to the council within 60 days.

Technorati Tags: Panhandlers, Fresno CA, Median Beggars

Forum For Candidates

On March 29, 2008 Fresno City College will be holding a forum for candidates running for office. The forums will be held in the faculty dining room on campus. Candidates for City Council districts 2, 4, and 6 will speak from 10-11:45am. Then candidates for judicial race #10 will be speaking from 11:45 - noon. Candidates for mayor will speak from 12-1:45 pm. Then finally the candidates for Board of Supervisors Districts 2 and 5 will speak 1:40-2:55pm. If you need more details you can call 559-355-7040.

The Hacienda: Halfway House or Abandoned Building

The Fresno City Council had plans to turn a former hotel at Clinton and 99 into a halfway house but it has been delayed due to neighbors complaining. According to the article in today's Fresno Bee, the decision has been delayed another 30 days. I understand that the neighborhood maybe concerned about this secure facility to house ex-cons, parolees and their kids but is the alternative better? It has been sitting empty for 2 years. In the harshest sense this is a choice between a crack den with criminals or a supervised facility with criminals that are trying to be reformed. That isn't a real choice to me. It isn't a situation where it is a profitable business or a halfway house, I could totally understand the neighbors getting involved the. I think that 30 days to placate the neighbors isn't going to placate the neighbors. Either do it or get a business in there because it just sitting is the worse thing for the area. Looking at the harsh reality of Fresno, buildings can sit empty for decades, so what the neighbors think would be a temporary problem may not be. I urge the neighborhood to not try to live in the glory of the old days (this had been one of the nicest hotels in the area) but deal with today's harsh realities.