DEVOTED TO CIVIC IMPROVEMENT

Higher expectations of our government

Deeply held beliefs about the importance of civic participation, the usefulness of public service, and the value of personal integrity are at the crux of Eric Papenfuse’s decision to offer himself as a candidate for City Council.  He is committed to reducing the inefficiencies in City government, opposing unspoken but longstanding pay-to-play practices, and bringing greater fiscal responsibility back to all of City Council’s decisions.

The first step in making the Council more accountable for its financial decisions is actually to put into practice recent legislation allowing for line-item evaluation and approval of City budgets.  Every spending proposal and every expense should be open to public scrutiny, and City Council should not shirk from this role.  Indeed, the Council has a constitutional obligation to provide effective checks-and-balances on the executive authority, through its budgetary decisions just as through its advice and consent on other municipal matters. 

It is imperative that Council no longer support any proposals (including those from the Harrisburg Authority or the Parking Authority) that unreasonably increase the City’s debt, or that ignore the real, long-term costs to be borne by residents and businesses.  Council must also insist upon an open, fair, and competitive bidding process for all municipal contracts, as it has too seldom done.  Eric Papenfuse has a firm grasp of these fiscal realities and the concomitant political challenges, and he stands ready to address them.

Prioritizing public safety

Equally important to Harrisburg’s civic improvement is restoring the health of our still shockingly crime-ridden neighborhoods.  From vandalism and petty theft, to muggings and assaults, to the tragic shootings that far too often bring anguish to Harrisburg’s families, the rise of crime throughout the city is of paramount concern.   

While Harrisburg’s population has declined steadily over the past 8 years, the numbers of crime have held firm if not increased in all categories.  According to the city's internal statistics, there were sixteen murders in 2008, compared to ten murders in 2000.  Even early in 2009, the crime rate is unfortunately keeping pace with last year’s.  Yet, the City has even fewer police officers now than it did 20 years ago.   In 1989, there were more than 180; now, less than 160 are employed in the Department of Public Safety.  Although the size of the police force has shrunk, the police bureau's budget has grown by millions of dollars.

The City urgently needs more police officers.  The current understaffing means that officers, of necessity, focus on violent crimes.  Meanwhile, non-violent crimes like drug dealing go essentially unchecked, occurring brazenly throughout the city, contributing to ongoing blight, and fracturing too many neighborhoods. 

A larger police force is only part of the answer.  City Council must also insist on having a much more diverse force that better reflects our community and actively solicits residents’ involvement in localized anti-crime campaigns.  Neighborhood groups are eager to coordinate their existing efforts with City police officers, and especially to receive regular, public distribution of crime reports.  Patrolling on foot, neighborhood-based officers must strive to prevent crimes rather than merely responding to them.  Harrisburg’s police force needs this transformation in its very culture, and Eric Papenfuse will be a compelling advocate for it.

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