Badge of influence

It's that wonderful time of year when it warms up and political flyers bloom in our mailboxes.

Although they're often full of half-truths, bluster and pointless accusations, they're also very telling. For example, who you should really fear.

It's the most common complaint in Austin politics, and the one most used by single-member district proponents - this city is run for and by those who live in Central Austin.

But you ought to have much more fear for those with badges. That's the real powerbroker.

It is almost impossible to get elected to city office in Austin without the police and fire political action committees. They are the most moneyed, organized and involved groups in this town. Look at how loudly the candidates who get those endorsements trumpet the prize.

The members of those PACs and their friends also have a very narrow agenda that has an impact on every citizen in town.

Under the label of public safety, police and fire budgets take up almost three-fourths of the budget. And it is in the best interest of the employees under those budget numbers - police and fire - to keep those numbers up and even growing.

You may say that it is incumbent upon us to maintain such status quo. I am all for maintaining safety, and those two organizations are the spot where it happens. But I'm also for all departments always being reviewed and reorganized to ensure money is spent to do the core duties and not too much involved in administration or layers of bureaurcy. And that's harder to so when the PACs' approval prove to be the most sought after in local politics.

Public safety gets into the field with the other sacred cow, education, much too often. In education, we say "it's for the kids" and people are automatically willing to authorize tens of millions. Public safety says "it's to keep you from getting robbed or your home burning" and we nod like cows watching cars go by.

You want proof? City Manager Mark Ott has told all city departments to cut 7 percent in their proposed 2010 budgets from what they have in 2009. Except public safety. They should cut 3.5 percent.

Don't think Ott made such a decision on his own. This council chased off the last city manager saying it wanted to work the budget details. Now, it does such a little quieter since we're in recession and the decisions are difficult, but you can be assured Ott was consulted by council members who dearly wanted police and fire on their side at election time.

It's not even a vote thing. Large percentages of the two departments live outside Austin. But they carry clout - dearly sought endorsements and money.

I believe members of the police and fire departments have as much right as anyone, resident or not, to speak out on Austin politics. I admire them for being involved. But no one should believe city elections are controlled by a few zip codes between Ben White Boulevard and Enfield. Those areas do cast votes more often, but those votes are greatly influenced, as are many, many city council decisions, by those in uniform who have a very special interest in all the tax dollars.