Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Throw Money at the Problem, and Crime should go Away... right?

This past May, Cincinnati city council decided to spend $1.2 million for additional police patrols. This raised a controversy (believe it or not). It sounds like a good plan, however, with the city facing a $13.2 million deficeit at the time, spending an additional $1.2 million seemed like it made little fiscal sence. You can read about the story here

Here is where I am puzzled, how come nobody seems to question as to whether spending more money on police patrols will work?

Last year, through Cincinnati Citizens on Patrol training class, one of the speakers was Lt Rahtz of the Cincinnati Police Department. He spoke about some of the differnent ways to fight crime, and to attack 'crime hot spots'. It is difficult to tell if some of his ideas would work (as those programs have barely materialized), however, none of his programs ever talk about the need for more police patrols. In fact, they do not even talk about the need for more money to be spent.

Are more police officers always the answer? Lt Rahtz sites an experiment in Kansas City where the police department there took all of their patrols out of one beat, and sent them to a beat with a similar crime rate (the only time a police officer would enter that beat was when dispatched). So for a time, one beat had twice as much police presence as before, and the other one had virtually none.

So, what was the end result? Crime stayed the same in both beats. Police presence had no effect on crime!

So how did this experiment of having more police patrols in the summer time workout? It is still too early to tell if overall crime was affected (those crime stats are usually reported several months into the next year), but we do know that the murder rate is flirting with an all-time high. In fact, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that we are 3 murders away from setting the record. It doesn't look like this $1.2 million was well spent.

It seems odd that someone who has devoted his adult life to fighting crime talked about the need to better target crime hotspots and to listen to the citizens more closely. Our elected officials, who runs council on a part-time basis, think they know better, and would rather throw money at the problem, and show up for photo ops touting how through their leadership telling people that their leadership is making Cincinnati safer.

Friday, December 23, 2005

Stop Emminent Domain Abuse

Friends:

On Wednesday, January 11, 2006, we will argue our Norwood eminent domain case before the Ohio Supreme Court. The Ohio Supreme Court is the first state supreme court to hear arguments on the constitutionality of private-to-private condemnations since the Kelo decision, so in recognition of the occasion, we're holding a rally in Columbus the morning of our argument.
The rally will begin at 8 a.m. on the west plaza of the Statehouse by the large McKinley monument. If you are driving, we urge you to be parked and at the rally site by 7:45 a.m. The best parking is the Statehouse underground parking lot, which is inexpensive and conveniently located. Directions can be accessed here.

For those of you in the Cincinnati and Cleveland areas, we will have a 56-passenger bus coming from each city . YOU MUST RSVP TO RESERVE A SEAT. Please respond to this email ASAP with which bus you will take and the names of those coming with you. If you don't RSVP and show-up for a ride on the day of the rally, you may get turned away if the bus is fully reserved. Please do not RSVP for more than the number of people you are certain will attend with you.

Here are the pick-up locations and pick-up times:

Cincinnati area: 3935 Edwards Road, Norwood, OH 45219. Pick-up at 5:30 a.m.
Cleveland area: 18615 Detroit Avenue Extension, Lakewood, OH 44107. Pick-up at 5:00 a.m.

There is parking available at both pick-up locations. Please be early - the buses will leave at the listed times and will NOT wait for latecomers. The buses are equipped with bathrooms. Both buses will arrive in Columbus at 7:30 a.m. and drop-off passengers at the Hyatt across the street from the rally site, where folks can keep warm until the rally begins. Breakfast will be served on the bus. The buses will depart Columbus at 2 p.m., giving you ample time to have lunch following the argument.

The courthouse is located a block west of the Statehouse. We will depart from the rally site for the courthouse at 8:30 a.m. sharp . Our oral argument is expected to start at 10:30 a.m., and while that time could move up, it's important that you are in the courtroom by 9 a.m. to ensure that you have a seat. Seating in the courthouse is on a first-come, first-served basis. Everyone entering the building will need a government issued photo ID card. An overflow room where people can watch the argument on television will accommodate those unable to be seated in the courtroom.

After oral arguments, we invite you to come to the Hyatt at 75 East State Street - just a block from the courthouse - to hear from the Institute for Justice attorneys who argued the case. If you are taking one of the buses back home, you are welcome to relax in the conference room we have reserved at the Hyatt until 2 p.m.

We encourage you to make and bring signs in support of the Norwood property owners and against eminent domain abuse, but no sticks or poles are allowed. All raised signs must be on tubes or some sort of light, non-threatening materials.
The details again:

1. RALLY Wednesday, January 11, 2006 8 a.m. West plaza of the Statehouse Columbus, Ohio
2. NORWOOD ORAL ARGUMENT Seated by 9 a.m. Courthouse Columbus, Ohio
3. DE-BRIEF BY IJ ATTORNEYS Following oral argument Hyatt on Capitol Square 75 East State Street Columbus, Ohio

*PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL ASAP TO RESERVE SEATING ON THE BUSES or let us know if you will drive on your own.*
Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. For more information on the Norwood case, click here.
Come out in support of the Norwood property owners and let the Ohio Supreme Court know that Ohioans will not stand for the abuse of eminent domain any longer!

We look forward to seeing you in Columbus!

Happy Holidays,
Christina Walsh
Assistant Castle Coalition Coordinator
Institute for Justice
(703) 682-9320
www.ij.org
http://www.castlecoalition.org/

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Blackwell Steals Freedom to Prosper Idea from Libertarian Candidate

In a new twist, Republican Gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell has distributed emails to his supporters using Libertarian candidate Bill Peirce's campaign theme, "Freedom to Prosper".

Peirce, an economist from Case Western University, unveiled his "Freedom to Prosper" plan during the initial announcement of his campaign for Ohio Governor this past summer.

The plan proposes to cut taxes across the board, eliminate Taft's tax increases, protect homeowners and business people from eminent domain abuse, and create real school choice for parents and teachers. Dr Peirce's website states, "I’m well aware of the linkage between low employment and high tax rates. There’s a growing consensus among many economists that economic freedom is closely linked to economic growth. The only way to get more rapid growth is to get more economic freedom."

Recent emails from Blackwell's campaign team notes, "I believe that government should give people the freedom to prosper." and continues to say "Ken Blackwell believes that no government has taxed their way into prosperity, and will seek an agenda that gives Ohioans the -freedom to prosper- by restricting government spending and letting you keep more of your own money."

We're all so glad that Mr. Blackwell agrees strongly with the Libertarian Party on this issue. I just didn't know he would take his campaign theme directly from our website.

The complete details of Peirce's Freedom to Prosper plan can be found at: http://peirceforohio.com/

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Happy Bill of Rights Day

On December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights was ratified. The Bill of Rights limits the power of the government and protects the rights of the people. It was so important that several of the original 13 states would not ratify the Constitution without it.

Won't you help the Libertarian Party of Ohio protect our Bill of Rights?http://www.lpo.org/Contribute/LPOGoals.shtml

Nearly everything that makes us proud to be an American comes from the Bill of Rights: it guarantees the freedoms to speak, print, read, assemble, pray, petition the government, and to keep and bear arms. It protects us from unreasonable arrests and searches, excessive bail, double jeopardy, coerced confessions, and from cruel and unusual punishment. It upholds our rights to due process, jury trials, counsel, and to present defense witnesses. These are the freedoms and rights that define America.Surprisingly, Americans do not celebrate the foundation of our political freedom, the Bill of Rights -- but we should. And you can, by visiting http://www.lpo.org/Contribute/LPOGoals.shtml and demonstrating your commitment to Liberty by contributing what you can to our noble cause!

We've worked hard all year to advance Liberty, please help us start the new year on the right foot by doing what you can to help.The Libertarian Party has worked hard to protect the rights of Ohioans everywhere. But we could have accomplished so much more! We are very limited by our funding. Every day there are more cases of eminent domain abuse, excessive taxes, regulations on our small businesses, and corruption. It is my sad duty to choose which issues and who we can afford to help with our limited resources.

Help us keep your agenda of protecting our American rights on the front burner!Have a very Happy Bill of Rights Day and please contribute to our fight as much as you're able! If you prefer to send your contribution in the mail, please send it to: LPO, 700 Morse Rd. Suite 208, Columbus OH 43214.

Thank you.
In Liberty,

Robert Butler
Executive Director, Libertarian Party of Ohio

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

How To Build New Schools Without Cutting Programs or Raising Taxes

This is a recent blog entry with the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions (BIPPS). You can read more about BIPPS by visiting www.BIPPS.org

How To Build New Schools Without Cutting Programs or Raising Taxes
By Joel Peyton

Lawmakers spend every legislative session pondering how much money Kentucky schools need. Invariably, some proposals involve cutting unneeded programs while others discuss improvements that would require taxpayers to reach deeper into their pocketbooks.

A politically palatable way exists to enable legislators to raise more money for K-12 education during the 2006 legislative session without threatening current programs or increasing taxes. Lawmakers could eliminate the requirement that workers on school-construction projects be paid “prevailing wages,” which are usually high above market earnings.

Kentucky taxpayers shelled out more than $361 million (of which $164 million reflect labor costs) to cover new school-construction expenditures in 2004. Without the prevailing-wage mandate, total school-construction costs would have declined by 11 percent to around $329 million, and labor costs would have decreased to only $136 million. Prevailing-wage requirements escalated labor costs alone for Kentucky’s school-construction projects by 21 percent in 2004 (1). Eliminating prevailing-wage requirements would not only lower school-construction costs by increasing the number of bids offered on projects, the savings incurred could also provide revenue to meet other vital needs. Had Kentucky schools not been required to pay prevailing wages on construction projects last year, the savings of $28 million could have been used to buy classroom necessities such as computers and textbooks that always seem to be in short supply.

The present statutory requirement to pay above-market wages results in unreasonable prices for new school buildings and limits school districts from constructing new facilities.

For example, original estimates for a new high school in Belfry placed the price tag at around $18 million. However, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported that the project ended up costing around $32 million – an average of $44,400 for each of the 720 students enrolled in the school.
Belfry Superintendent Frank Welch told the newspaper that Kentucky’s prevailing-wage law contributed to the dramatic cost inflation. Welch lamented that prevailing wage is “killing the school business.” The superintendent is correct in his assessment that the state’s current prevailing-wage statute damages both schoolchildren and taxpayers. 2. The Kentucky Department of Education Division of Facilities Management estimates that a total of $211 million could have been saved on school-construction projects between 1999 and 2004 had prevailing-wage not been required. Such savings would likely have resulted in more schools being built and less talk about the need for tax increases.

Prevailing-wage laws needlessly impose a burden on Kentucky’s taxpayers and schoolchildren by driving up the cost – while reducing the number of – school-construction projects. Rather than spending hard-earned tax dollars to pay above-market wages to construction workers, Kentucky should abolish prevailing wage and invest the millions saved into our children’s educational future.

– Joel Peyton is a research analyst for the Bluegrass Institute, Kentucky’s free-market think tank.

1. Estimated education prevailing-wage costs are based on a 2001 Legislative Research Commission Report (No. 304, 12/13/01 pp. 58.) Education-construction costs with and without prevailing wages are based on a 2004 Kentucky Department of Education Division of Facilities Management prevailing wage analysis.
2. “Wage law blamed for ballooning cost of schools” by Lee Mueller, Lexington Herald-Leader, Aug. 14, 2005Download PDF

The Bluegrass Institute is an independent research and educational institution offering free-market solutions to Kentucky's most pressing problems.

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Sunset the PATRIOT Act

I promise this will be one of the last entries about national issues, but I urge everybody to write a letter to your Representative. DownsizeDC.org has their electronic lobbiest system which makes sending a letter to you representative so easy. It will literally take a minute. See link below.

A personal message from Gary NolanChairman of the Board of DownsizeDC.org

D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h*************************

Action Item:

Please continue to bombard Congress with requests to let bad provisions of the Patriot Act sunset. If you've done it before the last week or so, do it again. If you haven't done it yet, please do it now. We have a real chance to win this one. The pressure is on for Congress to pass it when they return December 12. The bill sunsets December 31.

Send your message here:
http://action.downsizedc.org/wyc.php?cid=31

Talking Point: Any new power given to government will be abused. Case in point . . .The FBI promised Congress it wouldn't abuse the new powers the Patriot Act gave them to conduct searches of the private records (National Security Letters, Section 505) - everything from your library records, to your bank and credit card transactions, to your Internet usage, to your medical records - of American citizens without a warrant. The FBI then told Congress they were making almost no use of this power.

But they lied.

A Freedom of Information Act request made by a citizen's group revealed that they have used this power more than 120,000 times since Congress passed the Patriot Act (September, 2001). There is no oversight of the FBI's use of this power. If such a request is made about you, the service provider is not allowed to tell you your records were accessed. And there's no way to challenge the FBI in court to prevent the abuse. This provision of the Patriot Act must be allowed to sunset!News:Want to know how many messages we're sending to Congress about the Patriot Act?

Read our blog: http://www.downsizedc.org/blog/

Want to know what the radio talk show host had to say about the Read the Bills Act? Read our blog: http://www.downsizedc.org/blog/

Want to know what we're doing about the Death Tax?
Read our blog: http://www.downsizedc.org/blog/

On behalf of Jim Babka and the folks working at DownsizeDC.org, thanks for being a DC Downsizer.

Gary Nolan
Board ChairDownsizeDC.org, Inc.

Friday, December 02, 2005

Meet Your LPO

LPO Regional State Conference and Executive Committee Meeting
2531 Tiller Lane, Columbus OH
Saturday, December 10, 2005

The LPO’s first Regional State Conference on December 10th in Columbus will start potential candidates, new members, and county organizers on the right foot.

“We’re planning a full day of campaign training, outreach seminars, and organizing tips,” notes State Chair Jason Hallmark. “The Executive Committee will also be meeting to plan our 2006 calendar of events. Members, prospects, and guests are encouraged to attend.”

Those that SHOULD ATTEND:
  • New Members and Prospective members
  • Present County Development group members
  • County Coordinators
  • those interested in getting a local county group STARTED
  • current and future party leaders.
Agenda
  • 9AM Outreach Workshop and New Member Class
  • 10:30AM Campaign Training
  • 12PM Lunch1PM Executive Committee
  • 1PM Grass Roots Organizing - County Development
  • 3PM Small Business Initiative - Marketing the LPO
  • 5PM Welcome Dinner (Free for new and prospective members)

Suggested Contribution of $30

RSVP to HQ@LPO.org or call 614-547-0290

Click here for directions