$300 per year can provide Freret residents with 24-hour security patrols, proponents estimate

As was discussed at last night’s Second District NONPACC meeting, in part, plus some of my own thoughts:

(0) Add the City of New Orleans to the list of potential beneficiaries whenever a new security district (SD) is established; the Board of Liquidations (which handles all accounting and disbursements) skims a 1% administrative fee from SD gross revenue.

(1) The neighborhood immediately to the west of Freret — Upper Rickerville, where the Mayor lives — is NOT a security district; instead, they operate a private patrol, managed by volunteers, with voluntary membership.

(2) Elsewhere in my replies (below) I indicated that several former NOPD commanders were called in as “experts” to pitch new SD’s around town. I want to make clear this does not include any current commanders, especially Cdr. Noel of 2nd, who has been exemplary in maintaining a completely neutral stance on the issue.

(3) As to Andy’s insightful suggestion that a “long term solution” is needed, it bears noting that NOT ONCE have residents voted to eliminate (nor has a sitting board elected to dissolve) an active security district, regardless of its effectiveness. Despite what SD by-laws routinely spell out, it is rare if ever that board members assess the situation and declare, “This isn’t working, let’s disband.” (My neighborhood had to do so with our private patrol, due to diminished participation, so I count us as a successful social experiment.)

(4) To be sure, security districts bring about certain intangibles that are hard to measure, not the least of which are peace of mind, increased property values, and the pleasure of being escorted to one’s front door at night by an armed patrolman. At the same time, once you realize (as we did) that that is ALL a patrol is doing during most shifts, you have to admit these amount to very expensive perks!

(5) One mustn’t ignore the impact of an SD’s cost on landlords (many of whom are absentee and therefore HAVE NO VOTE in the matter), who invariably pass along the expense to tenants in the form of higher rent … at a time when rents are already steep owing to increased utility bills, property taxes, water rates, sanitation fees, etc. Property owners must also recognize that, since SD membership is a fee — not a tax — paid for a service, so is never deductible.

(6) Many people I’ve canvassed, especially owners who may live outside the SD bounds, feel that the imposition of a fee without their consent is like “taxation without representation”. They are quick to point out, as well, that their tenants are unlikely to vote — or even be registered to vote! — on the matter. The “experts” may claim that SD’s improve the rental market by justifying higher rents (or lower turnover or vacancies, etc.) and by attracting new renters to a protected area, and that landlords will therefore gladly absorb the costs.

(7) Past experience shows it is incredibly difficult to manage patrols such that their operation — hours worked, miles covered, area patrolled, escorts conducted, etc. — is well-documented and transparent. I have heard every conceivable argument (from patrol foremen) AGAINST: having GPS in the vehicle; punching a clock; using a camera; placing a light atop the vehicle; marking the car; filling out a 1099 form; doing direct deposit of pay; etc.

(8) Finally, let’s tease apart some jargon. “Security Districts” are state-legislated entities in which a patrol may (or may not) be hired. Such patrols may (or may not) be 24/7 — smaller neighborhoods simply cannot generate enough revenue for round-the-clock coverage. “Private patrols” are local affairs, sometimes as small as a single block or street. Membership to patrols may (or may not) be mandatory; most are voluntary.
Some “Tax Districts” collect fees for programs other than patrols (e.g. beautification, repaving, etc.), and are sometimes called “Improvement Districts” — though they routinely toy with adding elements of crime prevention (safety training, surveillance cameras, etc.) as the mood strikes.
Lastly, the choice of which parcels (built-on and/or vacant, residential and/or commercial) will be subject to paying for an SD, and which residents (elderly, low-income, impaired, etc.) will be exempt from paying, is entirely up to the SD board members — as with all other aspects of the enterprise.