Posted on 04/03/2007 7:17:10 PM PDT by Lady J USA 1981
Anti-war protests cost Tacoma $500,000 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TACOMA -- Tacoma police say last month's 12-day anti-war protests cost the city an unbudgeted $500,000 to provide a large-scale law enforcement presence.
The rough estimate covers overtime, regular compensation, equipment and food for hundreds of workers from Tacoma police and other agencies, Assistant Chief Bob Sheehan said.
The city plans to ask the Port of Tacoma and the military to cover some of the costs.
"That's a tremendous hit on our budget -- a half-million dollars of unexpected expense," said Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma, adding that the military would get the first invoice.
"I think our request is justifiable," Baarsma said. "I would expect that we would be reimbursed. I would be surprised if we weren't."
Police increased law enforcement at the Port of Tacoma during the convoying and storage of Army Stryker vehicles from March 3 until a ship carrying the military equipment left for Iraq on March 14.
Protesters were there each night.
I paid about $25,000 for my Tacoma.
This should be easy for them. Whenever people want to demonstrate like that, make the put up a hefty deposit. Like $1 million.
Tacoma should have hired Rolling Thunder or some other group like that. They’d have cleared the hippies out for a lot less than 500 large.
Good I hope the city goes bankrupt, Bunch of Unamerican scum!
Every American has a piece of this bill, since it’s likely the military will pay it (apparently, there is precedent). A few locals are on the case.
We need to go back to the days of the riot act.
What’s the problem? Why the liberals of Tacoma wouldn’t mind paying more taxes for protest priveleges? When they raise a little hell why just raise a little more taxes from the socialist libs...
‘taking $$ away for the common good’....no problema.....
I live right in the area. Tacoma is actually pretty conservative. We are in Pierce County. Generally speaking the whole state is fairly conservative, and if it wasnt for King County (Seattle), we’d be a red state. If you look at county voting, the same goes for Oregon...
I live right by Fort Lewis and McChord AFB. Love it here!
It’s a testament to the American Soldier’s love of freedom, that they don’t beat these people silly as they protest right by their main gates.
NOOOOOO! BILL THE PROTESTORS! IN THE FUTURE MAKE THEM PUT UP $1 million in bond money to get the permit.
When I first read the article earlier, my first reaction is let the protestors pay. Obtain the info via arrest records, tax records, etc.
Why bill the military?
And that is just the cost. The protesters are for sure going to follow the WTO rioters lead and sue the city, the police, and the Army for violating their rights.
Charge International ANSWER.
If they don’t pay up, take Brian Becker to court and impoverish him.
The city would STFU immediately.
Pierce County voted for Clinton, Gore, and Kerry. Tacomans may be blue collar Dems, but they are Dems nonethesame. Love Bob’s Java Jive however.
“The same goes for Oregon” ...
yes I know, For oregon it’s Multnoma County. (Portland) pisses me off. I live in a pretty conservtive county.
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