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By Aida Ahmed 
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 | 9:46 p.m.
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North Las Vegas residents continued to express their disgust with the tension between the North Las Vegas Police Officers Association and the City Council at Wednesday’s council meeting.
Complaints started coming in after the union put up signs across the city last month that read, “We can no longer guarantee your safety,” in response to proposed police layoffs. Residents say that the signs are meant to instill fear into the public and that they invite crime.
Union President Mike Yarter deemed the signs necessary, and the organization later filed for an injunction on layoffs that were set to start July 1. District Judge Nancy Allf issued a 90-day injunction last week, which postponed layoffs and gave the city and the union a chance to negotiate.
City spokeswoman Juliet Casey said that if the two don’t compromise, the city will be forced to lay off more people.
“If there were no concessions we would end up laying off close to 50 nonpublic safety employees,” Casey said. “We’ve already laid off over 150 nonpublic safety workers.”
Acting city Finance Director Al Noyola presented the council its options on Wednesday, outlining alternatives to more layoffs.
Noyola suggested that outsourcing some services and raising property taxes for the next two years would help manage the city’s debt.
Councilwoman Anita Wood disagreed, reminding Noyola that North Las Vegans already pay the highest property taxes in the valley.
Another option Noyola suggested in place of laying off police officers was to lay off the remaining nonpublic safety staff, which may cause the city to shut down some facilities.
The council will continue to research its options and discuss the budget crisis in two weeks.
No layoffs of Police would be needed if the on July 1st the Police had not taken a 4.3% cost of living raise given up their uni-form allowance and merit pay. These concessions would equal the 5% NLV was asking for. But the POA Union decided to spend thousands on large A-frame signs guaranteeing NLV residents Police would not help fight crime in NLV. Police portray themselves as hero's. Hero's don't intimidate the voters they have sworn to serve and protect. Then spend thousands hiring a Lawyer to file a restraining order stopping an election.
So how many would be laid off with a 10% cut?
You mean before the layoffs NLV police 'guaranteed' residents' safety? Wow. I am sure there are some victims of crime in NLV that would like to be compensated for that guarantee being broken (several thousand times over).
If they can't pay for police they need to get rid of them. Its very simple math. They could have taken a pay cut but they didn't.
Public Unions are a huge problem in the valley. They all need to go.
How nice of the NLV Police Dept!!!! You just know that if one of their houses got broken into, the dept would just rush on over there!!! But if it is one of the citizens that actually pay their salaries, you just betcha they would not go over at all.
How do these people sleep at night????????
Whats wrong with people whom risk their lives for the good of the public making a descent salary? Police should also be paid well to prevent corruption. It's a very common practice for police in third world counties to accept bribes as part of their salary. Sometimes uneducated people make comments not thinking the entire process over. We live in the greatest country for a reason!
Why not explore the possibility of joining the City and County and expand Metro's jurisdiction? Maybe it is cheaper than having this bunch hold the city hostage.
How arrogant of this bunch...they never could "guarantee" anyone's safety. Resorting to scare tactics only makes the issue worse.
All residents should go out today and buy a firearm and take responsibility for their own safety.
Noyola wants to raise property taxes.
If the residents are really frustrated, they should demand the end to public unions.
Then the people can determine how much they are willing to pay for these positions, instead of having unions negotiating against the taxpayers.
Police and fire $60k. If they don't like it they don't have to take it. There will be lines around the block for the job.
The residents of NLV should demand this, they should not be held hostage by the unions over public safety.
i love how everyone is just a union basher. these police and firefighters dont have the right to strike in order to try and protect their wages or benefits. so what is there best option? to collectively bargin. these men and women earn a good living and are based out of the valley since they are required to live here. thus they spend their money at businesses and also pay taxes. so when people say "hey i pay your salary"... they can shoot back at you..."i pay my own salary as well"... finally for everyone that says fire them all and there will be others that will work for less? ya i dont doubt that people will fill the spots...but as consumers always know...you get for what you pay for...
How many times have we seen up to 3 or more police officers at a basic traffic stop? I don't believe I've EVER seen ONE police officer car alone -
We should disclose the pay for these people, their bosses and put it out there.
By the way, why are we employing people that support signs that encourage criminal activity in our own community.
Why are we paying great salaries and benefits to officers who support the idea that they can NO LONGER do their job because of cut backs?
Can't we fire them all and hire new officers who are more supportive of the community they work in?
Unions are not your problem. City's that spent way to much money is your problem. Try the new city hall on for size! At a price tag of $142 million. Sounds like a great investment to me, then how about a few more million to add furniture sounds even better!
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/feb...
I don't live in North Las Vegas, but it sounds like a city council that way out of control to me!
Now is not the time to cut the police force anywhere, deal with the problem you have at hand and cut the programs you don't need. The safety of the residents should come first. Dig a little deeper, and cut everything across the board. I'm sure there are two sides to this story, and your police force has taking cuts to their pay already, in the past few years! Why put the burden on one department.
It's time that your city council, looks at what they are spending money on, that they don't need, and that could very well be the new chair then plan to be sitting in when their new city hall is done!
These cops think they have a job for life. Why? I'm surprised they haven't started committing staged crimes to scare the public further. The Cops do more harm than good. They lie routinely through their teeth. We don't need anywhere near the number of these thugs on the street that we have. Toast em. Fire em. Then we'll see how tough these babies are.
For you information Gary, the police DIDNT GET THE 4.3 percent raise you speak of. It amazes me that you people come on here and post comments when you dont even know the truth. Make sure you are giving correct information.
The city wouldnt be in a deficit if they hadnt spent money irresponsibly. Maybe if they had used they land they already had for the water treatment plant. Or not building the thing in the first place would've worked. How about not building that rec center on the air force base that the non military citizens in North Las Vegas cant use. Its just very disappointing that some of you choose to spread lies and make certain groups look bad and totally overlook what another has or is doing.
tiredoftheslant...i agree. the outrageous pay and benefits for cops and fire is definitely spending money irresponsibly. Get the wages and benefits under control!!
Let the 40 go. Lets see how it works out. Probably wont even notice.