We Can Afford Police the City Needs

September 23, 2011 by 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.

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Filed under 2011 Election, Sunnyside Budget Issues, Sunnyside Council, Sunnyside Crime Issues, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , , , , ,

SUNNYSIDE POLICE MAKE HISTORY: Endorse First City Council Candidate

September 12, 2011 by

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.

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On the Way To Council Meeting, A Honda Burns

August 30, 2011 by

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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Linde Takes Most Votes On Primary Election Night In School Board Race

August 16, 2011 by

With the votes being counted so far, it appears that Sandra Linde will face Leroy Werkhoven in the general election this fall:

Sunnyside School District No. 201; Director, District 4, Vote For 1

Leroy Werkhoven 510   33.77%

Sandra Linde 560   37.09%

Mike Wedam 429   28.41%

Write-In 11 0.73%

Cast Votes: 1,510

Source: Yakima County Auditor

 

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110th Anniversary of First Baptist Church

August 14, 2011 by

As a service to the community, and First Baptist Church of Sunnyside, Washington, BLOGSUNNYSIDE presents complete audio of the 110th Anniversary observance held on August 14, 2011.  A number of church and civic leaders spoke at the event, giving an interesting historical compilation of events in both church and city history.  The audio link is at the end of this post.

First Baptist Church Celebrates Its 110th Anniversary

Order of Service:

Welcome: Pastor Mike Hughes (introduction of Tim Hughes)

Invocation:  Tim Hughes (introduces Michael Kennard)

Opening Comments:  Michael Kennard

Cabot Dow, Former Member, Sunnyside First Baptist Church

Hymn 1:  Blessed Assurance

Jack Cooper, Former Sunnyside First Baptist Church Boy Scout Leader

Gloria Quick, Longtime member of Sunnyside First Baptist Church

Steve Crick, Former member and officer of Sunnyside First Baptist Church

Hymn 2:  Onward Christian Soldiers

Announcements:  Chris Gardner

Offering:  Mike Hughes – Special Music

Message: Pastor Mike Hughes

Roberto Ibarra, Pastor, Primera Iglesia Bautista, Grandview

David Roberts, Pastor of Yakima First and son of First Region Exec., Wayne Roberts

Hymn 3: The Old Rugged Cross

Phil Schenck, Sunnyside Police Department

Amber Hansen, Sunnyside Port District

Chris Gardner, Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District

Worship Song: Everlasting God

Closing Remarks: Michael Kennard

Closing Prayer: Pastor Mike Hughes

20110814 FBC 110th Anniversary

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Sunnyside Police: Gang Unit Now Active

August 9, 2011 by

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.

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Rainbow and Rodeo In Sunnyside

July 13, 2011 by

Tuesday afternoon, a rainbow formed over Sunnyside.  This snapshot I took does not do it justice.

Another event worthy of mention is the Bicycle Rodeo being held by the Sunnyside Police Department.  It is from 6-8 tonight at the Law and Justice Center.  For those that do not have bicycle helmets, the police department has some that they will be giving away at this event.

Sunnyside Police Department Flier

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Council Members: Only Pre-Approved Discussions Are Honest

July 12, 2011 by

Paul Garcia and Theresa Hancock seek to put a gag on discussions with Council Members at Subcommittee Meetings.

At Monday night’s meeting of the Sunnyside City Council, a question came up about discussions that take place at meetings of Council Subcommittees.  Paul Garcia and Theresa Hancock expressed support of restricting these Subcommittee meetings to only discussing items that have been previously approved by the whole council.  Hancock went so far as to suggest that if a Council Member asked a question during one of these meetings, that had not previously been voted on and approved by the entire Council, then it would not be open and transparent.

Admittedly, the logic of this escapes me.  The proposed item, as interpreted by Hancock, would mean that only questions vetted in advance at regular council meetings could be asked.  Garcia said that he did not see stifling the speech of individual Council Members as being “draconian.”  In fact, he said that this would make sure that the entire council would be “informed” of what the Subcommittee was doing.

Mr. Beyers, representing the city’s contracted legal firm, said that having the committees discuss items brought up at regular meetings of the whole council was just one way to handle discussion items.  He did not see the language as precluding Council Members from asking questions and bringing up other issues for discussion at their Subcommittee meetings.  However, he said that the item was written by Mayor Restucci, who was absent from Monday’s meeting, and therefore unable to explain his intent.

It would seem pointless to me to have a meeting where all the questions and items must be discussed and vetted at a previous meeting.  If members of the council are to interact with staff, they should do so without being muzzled.  In fact, it seems like this would violate freedom of speech for both Council Members and City staff.

There is no issue of transparency here.  The Subcommittees already make reports to Council at every meeting.  The Subcommittee meetings themselves are open to the public, and minutes are kept.  The Subcommittees only have discussion, and all action items are taken up by the whole council.  What possible danger do Hancock and Garcia see in having informed Council Members?

By the way, at Hancock’s request, she does not participate in any of the Subcommittees set up by the council.  If she is so concerned about what the Subcommittees are discussing, perhaps she should join her colleagues and become part of the process.

Council Members and staff need to be able to share information without a Hancock-Garcia approved script.  Contrary to what Ms. Hancock suggests, to do otherwise would be fake, and dishonest.

Here is the proposed item that was discussed:

Item 3G

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Sunnyside Police To Host Public Safety Fair Saturday

July 7, 2011 by

Sunnyside Police Department Flier

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Sunnyside’s Promise on YouTube

July 6, 2011 by 3 Comments

Yes friends, Sunnyside’s Promise has a video posted online for the world to see.  I am now aware of this fact, and will enlighten you on it momentarily.  Recently, I wrote a post about a video that Transformation Sunnyside has online.  That post got the attention of Nate Bridges, who let me know about the Sunnyside’s Promise video.

After viewing the Sunnyside’s Promise video, I asked Mr. Bridges if I could sit down and discuss it with him.  He readily agreed, and we met Tuesday morning.  After the meeting, I came away impressed with how driven he is in supporting the Sunnyside’s Promise organization.  In terms of the gang problem, it is important to have positive outlets for youth to engage in, as an alternative to the dead-end that gangs will bring.  As law enforcement brings greater pressure on the criminal element in our city, we also need to have positive alternatives for our youth.

Sunnyside's Promise Board Chair Nate Bridges

Funding is always an issue in the non-profit world, and Sunnyside’s Promise has some unique challenges in this regard.  While getting support from the City of Sunnyside, the Sunnyside School District, and Sunnyside Community Hospital, the organization is looking to also get increased support from the private sector.  Many of the grant programs that Sunnyside’s Promise is engaged in pay for the programs and employees, but allow only a small percentage to be spent on administrative overhead.

Bridges says one of the reasons for making this video, is for corporate boards to see some of the things that Sunnyside’s Promise has going on, so they can consider including the group in their budgets for charity and community activities.  These programs do not come cheap, as the group needs $180,000 each year to pay for its executive director, secretary, office space, insurance obligations, and employee benefits.  Most of the other employees are paid through various grants.

The Yakima County Gang Commission failed to include substantial money for Sunnyside’s Promise in its allocation of funding to fight gangs in the county, an oversight that Nate Bridges says he has been told will not occur again in the future.  Mr. Bridges is an appointed representative for the City of Sunnyside on the Gang Commission, but was out of town when the rest of the commission disbursed its funds last year.  Mayor Jim Restucci also represents the City of Sunnyside on this commission.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reported on the agencies that did receive funds through the gang commission, and a link to that article is at the bottom of this post.

In the YouTube video, Mr. Bridges says they were unable to show much of what the group does, due to concerns for the at-risk youth they are working with.  If it becomes public knowledge that a gang member is trying to leave the gang, they may be victims of violence from other gang members.

One such case involved Diane Lopez from Outlook, that according to Bridges, had made the decision to leave the gang.  She was involved with services from Sunnyside’s Promise, and unfortunately died after being shot in her home in Outlook.

Sunnyside’s Promise has helped eight or nine youth to remove tattoos, which also can not be pictured publicly.  Those removing tattoos are also at risk from other gang members that may respond in a violent fashion at this.  Such is the culture of those caught up in gangs.

The Sunnyside School District has referred over 90 students to Sunnyside’s Promise for its prevention and intervention programs.  Bridges says the kids typically are referred after flashing gang signs and colors, or engaging in other behavior linked to gangs.  School counselors are not equipped to deal with these kids to the extent that Sunnyside’s Promise is working with them.

In conclusion, the gang problem is complex.  No simple cure, like getting a job at the local Wal-Mart, will cure it.  The culture of gang life must not be allowed to take over the lives of our youth.  Sunnyside’s Promise is striving to prevent that from happening.  I wish them the best of luck in their endeavors.

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Filed under Sunnyside Budget Issues, Sunnyside Council, Sunnyside Crime Issues, Traditional Values, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

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