Mark Begich on Crime Democratic Jr Senator

Added $5M and 13 more police to Anchorage budget

The $435 million budget is almost $5 million less than originally proposed last year, but it’s still an increase to last year’s budget. $5 million in a $435 million dollar budget accounts for about 1%. While it’s a significant amount of money, it’s not a significant variation across the scope of the budget.

As the city grows, some say the police force needs to do the same. Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich said, “The taxpayers in this community are willing to pay for those type of services if they get results, and I think that’s what we’re delivering too.” Begich is delivering a 2009 city budget with 13 more police officers, adding to the city’s long-term goal of 93.

Throughout all the changes & adjustments made to the budget, for the past year Begich has repeatedly called for new public safety proposals

Added city police; pushed anti-gang & cyber-crime units

He founded the Making a Difference Program, which seeks to set straight first-time juvenile offenders; 90% of the youth who go through the program do not re-offend.

Three strikes traffic violators should face felonies

• Better Use of Technology: Ankle bracelets for known gang members.
• Unclog the Court Backlog: There are more than 1,600 felony cases currently awaiting disposition by the State.

  Stricter Penalties for Multiple Traffic Violations: Begich will urge the legislature to look at a “three strikes” type law for drivers with long histories of multiple traffic violations to face felonies.

  Coordinating Zoning and Crime Trends: coordinate a list of “trouble spots” where criminal activity may occur.

  Better Coordination Between Law Enforcement, Prevention & Intervention programs.

Rated 82% by the NAPO, indicating a tough-on-crime stance.

Ratings by the National Association of Police Organizations indicate support or opposition to issues of importance to police and crime. The organization's self-description: "The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) is a coalition of police units and associations from across the United States. NAPO was organized for the purpose of advancing the interests of America's law enforcement officers through legislative advocacy, political action, and education.

"Increasingly, the rights and interests of law enforcement officers have been the subject of legislative, executive, and judicial action in the nation’s capital. NAPO works to influence the course of national affairs where law enforcement interests are concerned. The following list includes examples of NAPO’s accomplishments:

• Enactment of the Fair Sentencing Act
• Enactment of the National AMBER Alert Act
• Enactment of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
• Enactment of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act
• Enactment of the Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act (Right to Carry Legislation)

VoteMatch scoring for the NAPO ratings is as follows:

• 0%-50%: soft on crime and police issues;
• 50%-75%: mixed record on crime and police issues;
• 75%-100%: tough on crime and police issues.