After reading John Stewart’s editorial, I have some concerns with the suggested direction you have recommended for the one stop anti-crime shop.
If I understand Buck Buchanan’s proposal correctly, his suggestion to city council was to eliminate any operational infrastructure costs, for effective volunteer anti-crime organizations that eat up hard-earned funding and donations, so that the funding could be more effectively used for their individual primary programs.
My past board experience is that each volunteer organization thrives on its volunteers’ dedication to its specific area of professional excellence. Each organization actively pursues hands-on exposure and community involvement in their areas of expertise and usually reports to a volunteer board of directors.
They are extremely focused and effective. Any addition of bureaucracy (reporting to council, etc.) would only reduce their effectiveness.
Your assessment of payback to the community is 100 per cent correct. These volunteer organizations are vital to the community and operate with very little in the way of recognition, for a job well done.
Dalt McCambley
Red Deer