John Gaccione

03/01/18

Word has reached the good folks here at headquarters that the current KPPCSD board has left our community open to significant risk. But how can this be, you may ask?

Concerned Kensingtonians have sounded the alarm to awaken their neighbors to the shocking situation created by the KPPCSD board. This board apparently by design has pushed our independent police department close to extinction. It’s just so scandalous!

They have split the COP/GM position so that the General Manager is down to two days a week. Although some say that is most likely more time than any previous COP/GM has ever devoted to managing the district. It still is irresponsible!

They have made attending meetings more difficult by splitting meetings into two per month. It’s downright shocking! The previous schedule of one meeting per month usually meant the meeting ran late into the evening so past boards could vote on issues unencumbered by pesky residents holding opposing views.

They have failed to address the staffing levels of our police force while waiting for yet another report on contracting paid for with your taxpayer dollars. Silly board, they want to make plans based on research and fact-finding rather than hysterical rumors and misinformation. Why, it’s a complete outrage!

As all the faithful know, some time ago the past KPPCSD Board majority duly adopted an ordinance (the so called Dorroh Ordinance) to ensure you have the right to vote on the question of contracting for police services. Disregard the fact that even though it was adopted as if the residents had voted on it, the ordinance was never put on a ballot. Say what?

Prior attempts at exploring contracting with El Cerrito for police services were rejected. Never mind that El Cerrito just didn’t seem to measure up to Kensington’s bucolic village image and the fears of losing personalized police service. Late in the process, a COP/GM, detective and administration staff positions were added to the feasibility study final report to negate the cost benefits of contracting.

Of course what went unsaid was the real fear that some Kensingtonians would no longer enjoy the direct influence upon the police department that they had become accustomed to in the past. Unacceptable right out of the gate!

So where does that leave us?

Since most of the residents of Kensington seem to have neither the time nor the interest to follow these issues in depth, let’s “Put Kensington First” and continue to harangue the current KPPCSD board. And continue claiming a misguided group of our Kensington neighbors wish to deny us our right to vote on the question of contracting for police services.

“In the United States today, we have more than our share of the nattering nabobs of negativism.” (Spiro T. Agnew)

Keeping Kensington First in Litigation since 2008