Letter to the Editor: I supported “Cops and Kids” initiative especially the “Kids” portion of the initiative

06.21.12 By Burien Daily | Filed under: Letter to the Editor

The following letter on the Cops and Kids initiative was sent to Burien Daily by Burien resident Joey Martinez on June 20th, 2012.

I supported “Cops and Kids” initiative especially the “Kids” portion of the initiative. The reason is simple: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

The Highline School District is a wonderful district with great educators who have the best interests of our children at heart.  They are dedicated to treating each and every child the same. In its pledge to support each child equally the district and HEA (Highline Education Association) are worried, among other things, about Burien providing more for their schools than the other cities.

This policy of “equality” is great while the kids are in school, but when they join us in adulthood it is very apparent who has slipped through the cracks. Frequently, they are a drain on our society because they are under-employed, on public assistance, or worse, breaking the laws society has set. They directly cost us money in Police, Courts, Jails, Property Values, and peace of mind. Indirectly, it is giving people the perception that Burien is unsafe. That PERCEPTION costs us money as well because who wants to live, work, or do business in an unsafe city.

The issue with this “equality” is that it is hamstringing the principles that see the unique issues at each school. As an example, one school principle would love to have in-class “after-school” time – that means snacks and busses. District and HEA budgets and policies would require that all schools be afforded that same privilege, rightly so.

The after-school time, for this particular school, would be used to improve the 3rd grade reading level and scores of our kids.

“Students reading at grade level in the third grade are more likely to graduate from high school. Students graduating from high school are less likely to wind up in the corrections system…” (http://www.politifact.com/oregon/statements/2012/feb/13/ben-cannon/canon-gets-connection-between-reading-and-crime-ri/)

The solution that the Burien City Council is offering is not one of trying to step on the districts toes but one of trying to seal the cracks that some of these kids fall through. It is the cities, and ultimately the tax payer, that directly and indirectly pay for those who fall through the cracks.

After attending many BEDP (Burien Economic development Program) meetings I can understand why the council wanted some agreed upon metrics. The metrics are there not to go over the School Boards authority, but merely to have something tangible to show the voters proving the program is working AND to have evidence of success when asking the voters to again support the levy as it expires.

For those reasons, I will ask the Burien City Council to again put this program forth as soon as practical.

Joey Martinez

Burien

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Comments (7)
  • Coverofnight

    After reading this, all I can do is shake my head and think, “….amazing!  He does it again.”  Joey, you’re no better than Martin in hiding behind the kids to get this initiative passed.  You know, I’m all for the kids, too – but how about we spend 1.8 million on the kids and a couple of hundred thousand on the cops?  You say absolutely NOTHING on the funding inequity of this initiative.  Your letter comes off as simply diversion – a smokescreen to cover the real intent of the initiative; hire more cops….maybe we should give you a new first name, Smokin’ Joey, to go along with Moretaxes……”Smokin’ Joey Moretaxes”……has a nice ring to it – make sure you put that on your election signs.

    Once again, I see your letter as another instance of your cheerleading for whatever the council and manager want – and you do this with a subtle hint of preordained blame for any kid that “falls through the cracks” if this initiative isn’t passed.  Well, I’m not buying what you’re selling, Joey.  I don’t want to pay an unfair share for additional cops; I want to see effective teaching of our children and not wasted money going to unions and/or an unreasonably high superintendent salary.

    This isn’t the best solution out there – why don’t you suggest a better one and show some leadership?  Oh wait, you’re Democrat…..there are no leaders in that party.  Guess I’ll just have to wait for your next smokescreen and work to clear the air.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jjjjmartinez Joey Martinez

    CON, I am curious, what is your solution to fix those low test scores. Can we agree that there is a co-relation between low 3rd grade reading and higher crime?
     
    The issue in Burien, regardless of what the numbers show, is perception. People percieve that Burien is crime-ridden, when in fact our crime stats are on par or better than most of our neighbors.
     
    I would rather we do spend ALL of that money on the kids. Growing up in the neighborhoods I grew up in I was very worried about the increase in cops, especially in minority neighborhoods.
     
    The problem with Tea-Baggers like you CON is that you worship the ground Paul Ryan walks on. Do yourself a favor and research Ireland’s economy. Ireland is doing exactly what Ryan and Romney are proposing (Austerity, low corporate tax rates….) and what do they have? Unemployement over 14% for starters…  Scary!

  • Coverofnight

     ….and the smoke gets thicker; but now, what’s that smell?  Oh, it’s just all the red herrings that Joey’s placed in his response.

    When I read your opinions Joey, I see deceit in your positions.which makes me want to question your sincerity.  You’re concerned about increasing cops in neighborhoods, yet you push for passing this initiative that will spend millions for additional cops.  This “need” for cops and the associated unwanted property tax funding for them is only the result of a forced annexation – an unwanted forced annexation that you (here again) are also pushing for its passing.  The lion’s share of the initiative’s funding will be going to the police and not to the kids.  To try and “guilt” the voters into passing this initiative by misleading the voters into thinking that the majority of the money will go to the kids is, as I’ve said earlier, like the Taliban using women and children as shields.  I’m disgusted and offended by the backdoor tactics to increase this local government – even more so now with this “Cops and Kids” initiative.

    Don’t become Burien’s Jay Carney, Joey.  All your dancing around this point only reinforces my conviction to lead voters back from the path that you’re leading them down.

    As for the Tea-Bagger economic reforms…..if only it would extend to a 50% or more reduction in the Seattle City Light staff; you know what I mean?  Actually, I take that back – ’cause if you’re out of a job, you’d probably run for office!

  • Joey Martinez

    CON, as an FYI I was working on a similar initiative similar to what Seattle does with the FEL(Family education Levy). The Kids portion of this initiative is better because it’s more nimble, cheaper, and easier to administer. If we could get it passed without the COPS portion I would be all for that. Polling didn’t seem to support the Kids without the Cops also in there.
     
    The principals were asked how much they felt they needed to improve 3rd grade reading scores and they drove how much to dedicate to the “kids” portion of this initative. That low number is pretty amazing all things considered.
     
    So, I wil ask you CON, if not this then what? You haven’t argued against 3rd grade reading scores improving long term success. What are you working on to help improve those scores? All I hear you doing is ranting, name calling, and acting like an angry old dentist!
     
    The reason I supported Cops and Kids was because it works to solve the real problem of underfuded education impacting us all when these kids turn into adults.

    Joey Martinez

  • Coverofnight

    ‘K Joey, I’ll make it simple and civil.  I don’t believe that the cops were needed in the initiative to support the kids.  So, riddle me this, Batman….What polling are you talking about?  Nobody asked me…..and who did the polling?  Was it simply Martin and the council making these decisions for us?

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