Kelly Patterson of Nevada Cop Block Speaks Against More Cops Tax 2013 (Extended Remix)
Channel: Nevada Cop Block (NVCopBlock.org)
Date: 04/04/2014

Just for the hell of it, I did a little "remix" of this video: http://youtu.be/1UvIuXczvlI of Kelly W. Patterson, the editor and main writer for NVCopBlock.org, speaking during the public commentary portion of the hearing for the proposed "More Cops" tax at the October 1st, 2013 Clark County Board of Commissioners Meeting. Among other issues brought up are the total lack of accountability at the LVMPD (not one cop has ever been charged for shooting someone in Metro's entire 40 year history), waste and mismanagement of the funding and personnel they already have, and the abuse and harassment that citizens of Las Vegas (especially those in certain neighborhoods) are subjected to by the police on a daily basis. 

The proposed "More Cops" tax would have increased the sales tax in Clark County, NV. (comprising the Las Vegas area) in order to fund the hiring of more police by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and other area departments, such as Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Mesquite

Sheriff Gillespie and others, who mostly comprised members of  the police departments that would have gained from the tax, maintained that Las Vegas is desperately short of cops and needs to hire more. Those opposed to it disputed that assessment and also maintained that most of Metro's budget problems were actually a result of waste, mismanagement, and faulty priorities. The complete lack of accountability and "shoot first" mentality of the LVMPD was also presented as a counter-argument by many present.

Ultimately, the tax was voted down, although there was a third and final (also unsuccessful) attempt to pass it in January of 2014. It was a pretty common theme, both among the commissioners that voted against it and the public opposing it, that, during such a bad recession, the citizens of Las Vegas (one of the worst hit areas, economically) simply can't afford another tax and Metro needs to tighten its belt and stay within its budget, just like everyone else has had to.

For further context, watch this video, featuring the people who spoke against the tax increase: http://youtu.be/276Pb-iI8-Y - Also, the full public comments (including pro tax speakers) can be seen here: http://youtu.be/2HCu4JTEoyI - In addition, the entire debate and the subsequent votes can be seen here: http://youtu.be/cDDPnFZrBxQ

Read more: http://nvcopblock.org/tag/more-cops/