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| Arcadia Crime Wave |
The other issue is crime, and here is where the seemingly eternal Councilmember Harbicht would prefer to make his campaign stand. And for obvious political reasons.
Yet wouldn't his having been in office for two decades, and in many ways a key architect of Arcadia's current law enforcement woes, make it hard for Harbicht to claim that he is an effective fighter of crime? Especially in a city that is today experiencing a 38.4% increase in residential burglaries, and a 55% increase in robberies overall?
Bob Harbicht is going to give it a try anyway. Here is how he expressed his opinions about those forces he believes are responsible for the crime wave engulfing Arcadia. This from the Arcadia's Best blog (link).
Bulldozer Bob probably believes he has correctly identified the cause of Arcadia's crime debacle. But apparently his analysis of the problem is factually flawed. Here one of his opponents in the City Council race, April Verlato, sorts his mess out.
Obviously Bob Harbicht doesn't really know what he is talking about. But his problems hardly end with the glaring ignorance he has shown regarding recent trends in state crime law. Bob also somehow believes that the support he has received from the Arcadia Police Officers Association makes him a mighty crime fighter.
Below is Harbicht's Form 460 from the last time he ran. It shows that the Arcadia Police Officers Association gave Harbicht a big $2,000 donation.
The Arcadia PD contract is up in 2 years, and the next City Council will be negotiating any new benefits and pay increases. What Harbicht is actually all about is shown by his willingness to vote Arcadia's Police Department huge pay and benefit increases.
Bob was on the City Council 2 years ago when the last Arcadia Police contract was negotiated. Here are the results of his ineffectual and possibly complicit efforts from Transparent California (link). This is what ordinary beat cops are currently being compensated in Arcadia.
Obviously the Arcadia Police Officers Association supports Bob Harbicht because he is willing to sign off on huge compensation packages in exchange for both political support and four figure campaign donations.
However, the effect this long standing political relationship has had on Arcadia's crime problems is actually something quite different. It just isn't working.
Tonight's Arcadia City Council Decision On Sierra Madre's Policing Woes
I am hearing from people in Arcadia who know a lot about these things that a City Council decision there approving Arcadia PD patrols in Sierra Madre is in no way a done or easy deal. There is a lot of resident opposition to sharing their cops, and they're talking to their CC members about it. Loudly.
Apparently those big increases in home robberies in Arcadia over the last year or so have made a strong impact on folks. The criminals go mainly after jewelry, and have never been caught. Some homes have been hit more than once.
We'll let you know how this all turns out. But do not be surprised if Arcadia's City Council rejects Sierra Madre's request for law enforcement assistance.
Despite what you might have heard, that is a possible result.
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