Autisticawkwardpenguin
114008
2716
109
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2020/06/10/375627/houston-passes-budget-that-increases-police-funding-amid-calls-to-defund/
Jun 27, 2020 11:08 PM
Autisticawkwardpenguin
114008
2716
109
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2020/06/10/375627/houston-passes-budget-that-increases-police-funding-amid-calls-to-defund/
mygfgoestoadifferentschoolyouwouldntknowher
LongoloidFartExplosion
So he's two weeks sober at this point.
Domehammer
Police are overworked in other areas getting ridiculous bonuses in overtime due to lack of police.
APerfectlyNormalPieceOfToast
Gotta hand it to him, making the problem worse IS technically 'change'.
gatotaco
The way turner sucks off the police department and then takes a shit on the fire fighters. He is a terrible person. What a lil bitch
MicahtheMartian
Jesus fuck my ass Christ, a billion??!! With a B???
nightof11bangbangs
Well its possible that increasing the training of existing officers would cost money, nothing's cheap in bureaucracy.
HellaFishsticks
That'll stop the protests /s
ImGur8
I'm hoping the spike will stop them
Winntir
Politicians really aren't going to understand it when Red October comes around, are they?
amk1031
I'm curious if the budget had already been passes/approved. One day seems like too short a time for government to do much.
TheBuckSt0psHere
Problems are not going to get fixed without money. Ask a teacher, they will let you know how well defunding works.
GeforcerFX
So to live in the Houston area cost around $0.60-$0.70 a day per person for law enforcement, doesn't seem to bad for a urban area.
DanskeEncyklist
...and guess what race and party the Houston mayor is, it may surprise you.
Sixsystems
60 Municipal Police Forces!!??
KuramaKitsune
wasnt universal healthcare like 10 billion over ten years ?
NJAFO
Thanks.
IZ42
Dammit Houston
RXJ235231
I actually want to know the details of this. There could be funds in the budget for things that are deemed necessary but not routinely used-
ImGur8
Cops are stretched out thin here with the huge area as it is.
RXJ235231
-like martial arts training. Additionally if they have a SWAT team and bomb squad their training can easily balloon the budget.
thefrompleman
maybe cos they're spending billions on police, rather than preventative measures, you know like how developed nations do it
awesomespeler
Is it beyond reasonable doubt, or with contradictory evidence, that the extra 20m had something to do with reform? Remedial training?
pericynthion8
If it's going into a whistleblower protection fund, maybe we're making progress.
onthe6ball
try this. nobody break any laws, and we can cut the police budget. c'mon, do your part.
ImGur8
Change comes from the source anything else is just trying to bandaid the actual problem smh
Trollingstoned
The world is not as simple as you need it to be.
MiroRibeira
Breonna Taylor was SLEEPING.
ShipsPassingintheNight
Texas is rich, son!
Timexican
Houston is a major port and there is a lot of money to be made in the Greater Houston Area.
Snooj
When you promise change but you don't promise *what* will change you're a politician.
ActionJohnnie
This is the trailer park boys movie plot
DVSBSTrD
When you promise change and you *do* promise what will change, you're "the lesser of two evils" and "not in office."
chromed
Yeah turns out promising specific change just gets people upset with your plan, generic change all the idiots can back.
TheWombatStrikesAgain
"I hereby promise clear, irrefuteable, and measureable change!" *reaches in their pocket* "Here's 29 cents. Don't waste it all on candy."
matticitt
$1bn is 2x the total budget of the city of 700k I live in in europe. That's fucking insane.
Lickycat
Yeah but the population of Houston Texas is more than three times the population of your city. Their total budget is around 10x more though.
DVSBSTrD
Well no one ever accused Texas of being sane.
GeforcerFX
City just city limits of Houston is 2 million, within 50 miles of the city limits is around 5 million people.
Lickycat
This actually explains the budget. It's essentially close to even to his city of 700k people. Budget per capita I mean.
Timexican
Greater Houston Area is closer to 7 million but yeah Houston itself is the 4th largest city in the US.
TheGhostofLouReed
Keep marching, people. The status quo has absorbed heavier body blows than this without budging.
gossegotha
This.
ImGur8
When comparing 3 weeks even 4 weeks after the SECOND increase in capacity we only saw low 100's increase
dsmegst
And wear your damned masks!
ImGur8
You do know we spiked to 1700 2to 3 weeks after our first protest right?? Link all the twitter pics you'd like but that's still the truth
HeyILikeDogs
I've been scared to because a lot of people aren't wearing masks and I have asthma but it's time.
kodiak931155
Time to die and take a lot of old innocent people with you apparently
ToastedVanilla
Please don't. You might actually die. Donate to some good cause instead.
gossegotha
Man the phones! That can help a ton. Call Mississippi state reps offering support; ask businesses how they’re helping.
KinetoPlay
Stay safe. You can call your representatives, spread factual information online. And if you can afford it donate to causes.
HeyILikeDogs
You're right. It's just so frustrating sitting on the sidelines. If it was just me, I wouldn't worry as much but I live with my old parents.
KingAardvark1st
I'm right there with you man. I don't have asthma, but my gf does, and I look after my grandparents personally. Just do what you can.
KinetoPlay
Remind yourself that you can't do anything to help if you get sick/die so keeping your health safe is a way to fight back.
albertkaholic
Raising salaries to attract better candidates and providing longer and better training...those aren't good things? They're not free.
morelikeconsham
The biggest movements right now is not "we need better police" but "police are not the right solution for our problems - we need less of
morelikeconsham
them"
DVSBSTrD
That only works when the money is spent PROPERLY.
thoushaltnotpass
This is not a problem that will get fixed by throwing money at it, they must cut the ludicrous spendings in military gear first
SuspiciousCactus
Military gear is a bad target. Its almost never used and most police brutality (what needs fixing!) happens when police aren't using it.
IhaveAdogAndAnxiety
Our local PD paid tens of thousands in OT to cover the protests/looting and we're really not that big of a town.
jm71117000
Thanks
Bombpier
..1 billion dollars...
HeyILikeDogs
You sweet summer child. That's absolutely not where they money will go unless it is legally mandated for them, which it won't be.
albertkaholic
Another issue altogether. I'm just suggesting that the best ways to improvement all have a price tag.
Sephers
Regular patrol officers frequently make around 100k per year. You're telling me we can't attract descent people for 100k a year?
dsmegst
Depends wildly on the locale. County police here make good money. 100K if they work overtime, which is frequent.
jm71117000
You are smoking coolaid . Smaller towns 15.00 an hr. Cities 35,000- up. Hardly 100,000
Timexican
The average officer in Houston makes closer to $55k. That's roughly the starting pay for a teacher in HISD.
SuspiciousCactus
Hahahaha. 100k! Oh wait youre serious, let me laugh even harder. Hahahaha
jayar1st
Exactly
jellybeandaddyjl
It's not the money more of the quality of people that are in law enforcement.
ThatchRoofCastle
In law enforcement NOW. but maybe not in the near future
jayar1st
You attract better candidates of you pay better and train better.
thisusernameisavailable
They were at a military vet hiring event in Seattle a few years back. I was confused, but apparently their budget explains that.
Scrappy1841
Because as a whole military vets are already better trained at de-escalation of force, use of weapons and unarmed combat, and understand ROE
thisusernameisavailable
I was mostly talking about traveling ~3k miles to recruit in a city that has a staffing shortage in their own dept.
jayar1st
You think so? I'm pretty sure the army spends way less time training in those topics specifically than most police departments.
Scrappy1841
It is very MOS specific however those that have combat jobs train a lot and ROEs are extremely important. Look up the ROEs from Black Hawk
Scrappy1841
Down, couldn't shoot back unless positively identifying that they were being shot at as is whistle snaps.
Ninjainslippers
Raising salaries doesn't attract better candidates. And 95% of what cops do shouldn't be done by cops.
SuspiciousCactus
Wrong and wrong lol.
Ninjainslippers
Police chiefs in big cities are making $200-300k and are largely bastards. And yes, that's true.
PhireHandy
I think it depends on how the money is being used, no? If anything, they should probably make how the funds are being used more transparent
Cosmicbacklash
Agreed. More tactical gear would not be the inspiring change people want to see.
PapaSuave
Unpopular opinion that I agree with. Not sure de-funding is the answer so much as reallocating funds to attract/educate better officers
PapaSuave
At the same time, I don't think PDs need grenade launchers or quite as much firepower as SOME have. Better officers might require less guns
Scrappy1841
With the massive number of legal and illegal guns in the USA i would recommend more training and range time vs defunding, former SEAL 1/2
Scrappy1841
Jokko Williams has been saying 80/20 work to training ratio, including weapons, ROE, de escalation, and unarmed combat training.
Grumblus
And likewise cops are already paid lavish salaries compared to other civil servants like emts, social workers, firefighters, does $=quality?
TakNoPants
It brings in higher quality candidates, also a better salary helps aids in stopping corruption via payments
AdmiralButtStuff
Except that's already, clearly not the case.
BortSamps0n
I dont know I've faked it for a paycheck at a job I hated and was underqualified for.
HootSloot
Like how 6 figure politician salaries stop lobbying?
waynestar100
Shouldn't cops get paid more than emts, social workers, and firefighters cause it is generally more dangerous work?
killdread
What, no. Generally a police officer is in danger less often than social workers or firefighters.
waynestar100
I can see the arguement for firefighters but how are social workers often in more danger?
llamasammich
Because money is what will attract more good cops?
albertkaholic
In part, yes. Higher salaries = larger pool of better qualified folks.
llamasammich
How about better and longer training? Other countries require years of training for cops and don’t have even remotely close to as many 1/2
albertkaholic
I mentioned that in my comment. Cutting budgets may not allow for some sensible changes.
llamasammich
murders by cops. 2/2
albertkaholic
And in fairness, murder describes an intent which is absent in most police killings,
llamasammich
Mmmm.....that can be debated.
johnrocks
Investing in education, healthcare, and welfare instead all limit the need for police
albertkaholic
I believe that too -- and common sense and theory dictate it. Unfortunately there's little empirical support -- particularly short-term.
Lobuttomize
Houston is one of the blue cities in Texas
johnrocks
Education, healthcare, and welfare are federal-level issues; there's only so much one city can do
Lobuttomize
Your point was the city needs to invest in those rather than cops
johnrocks
Both city and federal need to invest in those
thorinsbeard
Can you show me proof that this is the case? Not saying I don't believe you, just want evidence.
johnrocks
You'll have to google it. People aren't intrinsically criminals. Instead of viewing crime as the problem, look at what leads to crime.
Spiked
It's the long game solution. Build up the community to offer opportunities and financial stability. Reduce risk factors of turning to (1)
Spiked
crime rather than deterring criminals as the main method of prevention. Crime will never be 0% but education (children and parents), (2)
Spiked
financial opportunity, feelings of safety, and mental health/social services can reduce prevalence
AdmiralButtStuff
Maybe if they stopped using all the money theyre already getting to buy military equipment theyd have enough money for those things.
jayar1st
Military equipment comes from surplus programs and the stuff used by LE is defensive in nature.
AdmiralButtStuff
2) You dress them up like soldiers, give them MRAPs, and tell them theyre fighting a war on crime/drugs how do you think theyll act?
jayar1st
Military surplus programs don't sell weapons.
AdmiralButtStuff
Doesnt matter. 1)Tax payers are still on the hook for the purchase and maintenance of shit cops shouldnt have.
jayar1st
Cops absolutely should have less lethal tools (like 40mm launchers) and armored vehicles, which are a purely defensive tool.
AdmiralButtStuff
40mm launcher, by definition, is not a defensive tool, and "less lethal" does not mean safe.
jayar1st
Armored vehicles keep something bulletproof between gunfire and neighbors. They contain dangerous incidents.
notyourmommasinfidel
2 weeks ago? What's the incubation period for Covid again?
ImGur8
I've been saying this over and over again NOBODY CARES
ImGur8
:"/
Chainhealer
Nobody cares because it's not a factor. With testing and tracing it's quite easy to figure out who got infected where and who they were in
ImGur8
Just because it BLACK lives matter shit doesnt mean they are holier than though. Think critically it played a big timely role in this spike.
ImGur8
Thou
Chainhealer
contact with after. The protesters are a group so small relative to the population, also it happened outside. Infections hardly happen
Chainhealer
outside. These are all facts, known all over the world, it's basic science. So no the protests didn't play a big part, if any.
ImGur8
That sounds like a Trump thing to say something something heat kills the virus
ImGur8
3/3 Houston cops, the ones who had unmasked ppl yelling in their faces and sweaty hugging them, got infected after the protests.
ImGur8
That factors are 2 to 3 weeks after bars opened low 100's increase. 2 to 3 weeks after first houston protest spike of 1700. That's a 1/2
ImGur8
Tracing...can you link the list of traced covid patients that proves the bones infected arent people that protested?? -_-
ImGur8
2/3 a month and a half AFTER the first bar opening. How can you ignore that and put zero blame on the thousands of protesters. Many
Chainhealer
You don't seem to understand how the spreading of a virus works. It takes a lot of weeks to see a spike. Unless one person infected
ImGur8
That's you assuming out of thousands only one would have been infected. Its is highly probable that a good portion were asymptomatic ...
Chainhealer
thousands of people during every single protest, you're not going to see a spike any time soon.
ImGur8
https://reactfordataviz.com/articles/corona-simulation/
ImGur8
Mind you that link is a course of two weeks in wuhan... and that started supposedly with just one person
allthenamesaregone
"Throw money at it" is a politician's default fix for things. Just like "throw cops at it" has been the default fix for societal issues.
valen00
Thought it said throw crops at it, was like hey that might work.
BannedGeek
They complain about the education system and how it's broken. They take money though
copingcabana
To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Navrodel
Throw money at cops, throw cops at problem. "Why is there so much crime when we diverted funding from EVERYTHING to the police?"
timetimetimeago
US is like this poor boy,,, they have everything and they dont how to use it,
Rum0r
I respect donut operator, but he said police need more money to fix their issues but never said where the money would come from.
BenderBendingRrrrrrodriguez
Idk, maybe if we literally threw the cops it might solve something
AdmiralButtStuff
Especially if we use a trebuchet to do it. In fact, I bet we only have to throw a few before the rest unfuck themselves.
SmokyDoggg
Money's easy to throw around when it's not YOUR money. It's the taxpayer's money so he spends like a drunk sailor on shore leave
DougForcett
Public schools and social services would love to have politicians throw some money at them I can tell you.
RacialTension
Money does not fix bad public schools though, that's very clear. If cops spend it on training instead of tanks it could help
ScottBugVillain
No money is a great way to bring any good school system into decline. Takes money to fix up buildings, buy new texts, pay & train teachers.
RacialTension
I'm certainly not saying no money. But it doesn't fix everything and inner city schools show that. Overall I support more edu funding
dylanamanhouilhan
Public schools get massive amounts of money thrown at them. Incompetent bureaucracy makes it meaningless
icommentwithsteveharvey
Where do you think the money is coming from
nclu
Houston education budget is $2billion
DevonGronka
Which comes out to about 4,000 dollars per person under 18. Texas as a whole spends pitifully little on education despite having a 1/2
DevonGronka
moderately strong economy. https://www.understandinghouston.org/topic/education/funding-and-expenditures#overview
IceCracker
We spend more on education per student than all but 4 countries in the world, but tell me more about how throwing money at them will fix it.
DevonGronka
The issue has a lot more to do with how schools are funded. Schools in poor areas can barely afford to keep one staff member for 30 kids 1/2
DevonGronka
but tell me more about how it's not a funding issue. My step dad taught at a school where he was just one of a handful of teachers 2/3
DevonGronka
trying to manage hundreds of students and could barely afford basic materials.
AnimalRescueGuy
They often have no choice. Police have been known to slow down response times when budgets are cut. Look at how those budgets got so big.
Neurisko
Lot of money to be made off of the system, which causes people to treat the symptoms instead of the cause.
DoNOTunmute
Please show me a peer reviewed study backing this claim
AnimalRescueGuy
It was a sort of confessional post from a politician. It was on here very recently. I didnt save it but I’m sure someone here can pull it up
DoNOTunmute
I've heard of publicized threats but I've never seen a peer reviewed article where they studied it actually happening.
DoNOTunmute
I don't think anyone likes the threat of it happening, but unionized workers everywhere may come to the eventuality of slowing down service.
DoNOTunmute
Nurses slow down administrative work. Telephone workers refuse outright, cops may also slow response times to non priority calls when the