The News Tribune Reports on Historic Police Endorsement in Sunnyside
October 11, 2011
Sunnyside police back Jason Raines for council
Read the full article at The News Tribune
The Olympian Reports on Raines’ Public Safety Focused Campaign
October 10, 2011
Sunnyside police back Jason Raines for council
Read the full article at The Olympian
Raines In the News: Tri-City Herald
October 8, 2011
Sunnyside police back Jason Raines for council
By Compiled by Tri-City Herald staff
Sunnyside police officers have endorsed a candidate for city council for the first time.
The Sunnyside Police Officers Guild is supporting Jason Raines, a former Army officer who now is a teacher.
Related articles
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- We Can Afford Police the City Needs (blogsunnyside.com)
Raines Endorsed By Former Valley Mayor
October 3, 2011
A former mayor in the Yakima Valley is endorsing Raines for Sunnyside City Council. The following letter was published 10/03/11 by the Yakima Herald-Republic (yakima-herald.com).
Back Raines in Sunnyside
To the editor — Jason Raines is running for Sunnyside City Council, Position 5.
Jason believes public safety should be the No. 1 priority of local government. A community thrives only when its citizens are able to live and work in safe neighborhoods, not fearing for the safety of their children, homes and businesses. Jason will work hard to achieve safety for all Sunnyside citizens, which is why he has earned the endorsement of the Sunnyside Police Officers Guild.
As a former Army captain, Jason knows firsthand how to be a team player, and that goals are accomplished only when people work together. Jason will work tirelessly with other Yakima Valley governments, as well as citizens and organizations within the Sunnyside community, to provide safe neighborhoods, quality infrastructure and a community people will be proud to call their home. A father of three, Jason cares about creating a great environment for Sunnyside’s youth.
Jason brings a no-nonsense approach to his decision-making, listens to all points of view and values everyone at the table. Jason Raines is exactly whom Sunnyside needs to move the community toward prosperity, and as a former Tieton mayor, I’m proud to endorse him for Sunnyside City Council, Position 5.
NORMA JOINER
Yakima
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- SUNNYSIDE POLICE MAKE HISTORY: Endorse First City Council Candidate (blogsunnyside.com)
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- Sunnyside Police: Gang Unit Now Active (blogsunnyside.com)
We Can Afford Police the City Needs
September 23, 2011 1 Comment
By placing safety first, we can afford the police protection that all of us need in Sunnyside. We need to cut waste at city hall. Unfortunately, some of the positions I discussed were left out of the recent Daily Sun News article.
My opponent blames police for not bringing up items like police cars during in the budget process. Deputy City Manager Byron Olson told council during a public meeting that he directed the police department not to bring these items to council until later in the year. It is an outright fabrication for any member of city council to blame the police for not bringing this up sooner.
In the last three years, my opponent has voted to cut police officer positions, voted against creation of additional police patrols, the gang suppression unit, and also voted against the “Gang Elimination Strategy” of the Sunnyside Police Department.
During this time, I have attended almost as many city council meetings as members of the council itself, and more than any reporter for the Daily Sun News. I am well versed in the issues confronting our city, and am on record where I stand. It is not just during an election year that I remember the importance of public safety. That is why the Sunnyside Police Officers Guild is endorsing me for city council.
It is imperative that we stop spending $700,000 on legal fees. Our budget can not take this kind of waste, especially when we have a need to field a strong police force. We need to significantly reduce this expense.
I oppose illegal pay raises, period! All pay raises should be approved by city council. While this may seem like common sense, my opponent voted against sending all relevant information to the county prosecutor for his office to investigate the issue. Staffers at city hall have self-interested motives in trying to blame the police department for tight budgets.
We have bloated and redundant bureaucracy at city hall. By eliminating duplication of supervisory positions, we can save at least $200,000 in our budget. That is money that can be used to fund police officers, vehicles, parks and recreation, and a myriad of other services that directly benefit citizens.
When we control the crime problem in our city, we will create a more attractive environment for businesses to invest. More people will want to live in the city, which will increase housing options along with property values.
Most importantly, with an atmosphere that is attractive to businesses, we will create conditions for investment that will be a catalyst for good paying jobs that will employ the youth of our city. To succeed in the long-term we can not continue to starve the police department, in order to fund extravagant salaries at city hall.
Safety First!
Jason Raines
Candidate, Sunnyside City Council
Editor’s Note: This opinion piece was submitted to the Daily Sun News and printed as a letter to the editor in today’s paper.
Related articles
- SUNNYSIDE POLICE MAKE HISTORY: Endorse First City Council Candidate (blogsunnyside.com)
- Sunnyside Police: Gang Unit Now Active (blogsunnyside.com)
SUNNYSIDE POLICE MAKE HISTORY: Endorse First City Council Candidate
September 12, 2011
Jason Raines for Sunnyside City Council
1726 Gregory Ave EXT
PMB 281
Sunnyside, WA 98944
Contact: Jason Raines
Cell: 509.305.1986
Email: editor@blogsunnyside.com
***For Immediate Release***
Sunnyside police officers, heavily engaged in a campaign against street gangs, have for the first time, endorsed a candidate for city council.
The Sunnyside Police Officers Guild is supporting Jason Raines, a former Army officer who now teaches school.
Police Guild President Robert Layman writes: “In a community that has had a large impact from criminal organizations and actions, Jason is intent on making this a place to raise a family and be safe while doing so.”
Raines has been a consistent advocate of the newly-created “Gang Unit” and the “Gang Elimination Strategy” mapped out by top police commanders.
The two-officer Gang Unit, working with the newly-hired Crime Analyst, have made numerous arrests in its first few weeks of operation. Many of these arrests of alleged gang members involved firearms and drugs.
Related articles
- Sunnyside Police: Gang Unit Now Active (blogsunnyside.com)
Beehive Ball At City Hall
September 8, 2011
Image via Wikipedia
This week the Sunnyside City Manager tried to float an organization chart at the City Council workshop, but did not get very far with it. There were problems with the chart that was handed out in the council agenda packets, and he presented another one at the actual meeting. Since I listened to audio of the meeting, I never saw what he presented to council.
Still, what he did present was less than enthusiastically received. It seems that he was putting new positions on the chart, and having new reporting/supervisory schemes laid out that he has never brought before council. Apparently, Mr. Gervasi is not aware that the county prosecutor is already investigating the city for these types of actions. Only the city council can create positions, authorize pay for them, or increase the pay for existing positions. You see, our form of government requires that ELECTED representatives authorize the spending of money. APPOINTED officials, such as the city manager, must answer to the ELECTED representatives.
This kind of reminds me of something I saw tonight. My six year old was playing soccer. It was exciting, and everyone seemed to be having fun. The kids were learning about the sport. Since most of the kids are still learning the fundamentals of the sport at this age, they tend not to play “positions”, but they all instinctively run after the ball. The swarms of dust being kicked up surround a cacophony of kicking, as players from both teams all try to individually get control of the ball. With so many players gathered around, spectators are left with a view of the cluster, and can not easily see what is happening in the middle. If you have ever played soccer, or watched young ones playing, you know what I am talking about.
Referencing this swarming that takes place, one mother told me she calls it “beehive ball.” This is because it looks like bees buzzing around a hive.
When considering what is going on at City Hall, it appears that the city manager, and some of the staff, are not playing their assigned “positions.” Instead, they are trying to seize control of the ball and take it in the direction they want to go. This is all well and good, until you realize that the city manager and staff are not the queen bees. They are workers. Although they supervise others, they are still drones. They need to realize who it is they are serving.
The city council is the only group of people that will protect taxpayers from the beehive at City Hall. Without a city council, city staff do not have to answer to anyone.
We need city council members who don’t think citizens are a nuisance, and city staff that thinks council members are not an inconvenience.
The item was dropped from discussion, and will be brought back for another workshop or meeting.
Ultimately though, it is the citizens that are in charge. They will express their desire about the direction they want the city to go through the ballot box.
On the Way To Council Meeting, A Honda Burns
August 30, 2011
On the way to the City Council Meeting last night, I came upon our local firefighters putting out a blaze. It seems a Honda was engulfed in flames. All in a day’s work for those involved in public safety. While the council discussed the status of the city budget, I reflected on how the core function of local government should be to provide for public safety. Imagine that.
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BLOGSUNNYSIDE To Cover City Council Issues Starting In 2008
August 23, 2011
Dear Reader,
It is with a joyous heart that I inform you that I will begin to attend City Council Meetings, and even weigh in with opinions on issues. It may come as a surprise to you, as it did to me, that I have not been doing this. Well, it’s about time I start, and none too soon.
The citizens demand it!
At last night’s City Council Meeting, a citizen rose to speak during the public comments portion of the meeting. He is a regular attender of Council Meetings, and noted that the incumbents are present. He said he has not seen any challengers for office at Council Meetings (news to me), and would like them to attend. He also asked that the community hold a candidate forum for citizens to get to know the candidates better.
Granted, last night I entered the meeting a couple of minutes late, so this gentleman did not see me sitting a couple of rows behind him. After the meeting was over, we had a chance to talk, and I gave him my phone number. I am willing to talk with any and all concerned citizens.
As I have done previously, I am available and willing to participate in a candidate forum. I am not currently aware of any attempts to organize one, but should a local civic group invite me, I will look favorably on being a part of such an event.
There was at least one other candidate for City Council attending in the public seating last night as well. In addition, the meetings of the City Council are broadcast live on the Internet. If a person is not able to attend, or listen live, the recording is available via the city’s website to listen to at a later time.
All of this is well and good, and I am pleased that citizens are stepping up and wanting to get to know the candidates for office in the community.
More information regarding my campaign activities will be coming. In the meantime, look for me to be sitting with my Netbook at the Council Meetings. It will be easy to spot me. Only real news professionals and bloggers will be using a laptop in the audience. That narrows it down to two people at many meetings. In some cases, it will be just one.
Editor’s note: This blog began in 2008. I ran for City Council in 2009, and narrowly missed being elected. In June 2011, I filed to run for City Council in this November’s Election. I also regularly attend Council Meetings and workshops, and have been doing so for about three years.
Sunnyside Police: Gang Unit Now Active
August 9, 2011
Exclusive Audio Interview With Deputy Chief Phil Schenck
Deputy Chief Schenck Explains the Newly Activated Gang Unit
During last night’s meeting of the Sunnyside City Council, Deputy Police Chief Phil Schenck announced that the long discussed Gang Unit will be activated, and in the field today. Following the meeting, I interviewed him in his office, and obtained his permission to release this audio recording:
Sunnyside's New Crime Analyst, Courtney Percival, Is Introduced To The City Council At Monday's Meeting.
Related articles
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