Coming before the Rules Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 2 PM in Room 118 is a memo regarding the 64 year-old crossing guard program. In a nutshell, the memo asks that the City of San Jose use $1.9 million from the $9 million tobacco settlement monies (which the City receives every fiscal year from the tobacco industry and will receive for the next 25 years) to fund the crossing guard program on a temporary basis (for three fiscal years) to ensure that the program stays intact despite our massive $65 million deficit. After three years, our economy ideally should improve and the funding for the crossing guard program can be re-evaluated.
The City began receiving the tobacco settlement monies in 2000; before Sept. 11, 2001, and before the recent collapse of the economy. Instead of using these additional funds for core city services, as all other municipalities did, the City set up the Healthy Neighborhood Venture Fund (HNVF).
It’s not uncommon for government to start new projects, or create new government jobs with “extra money” that it has. However, my bet is that if people got to vote whether government was to save money or start “new projects” with “extra money” that the people would vote to save money.
There are three groups that are currently funded “off the top” from the HNVF fund. We spend more than $900,000 on staff to manage the HNVF (please note that this amount equates to between six and seven full-time police officers, or almost enough to open all neighborhood libraries on Sunday), $2 million on children’s health insurance, and about $2 million on homework centers. After these groups are funded, there is about $4 million left for the HNVF competitive process.
It’s important to note that besides these three groups, there is no other entity or group that is guaranteed funding from the HNVF. Groups need to reapply for HNVF funding every year. Therefore, using $1.9 million for crossing guards does not displace any group nor does using some of the HNVF monies eliminate anyone’s job. In fact, if the City of San Jose used $1.9 for crossing guards out of the $4 million, the HNVF would still have more than $2 million left for its competitive process.
Also important to note: The City of San Jose gives approximately $30 million to non-profits every fiscal year, as reported by the city auditor in December 2008. I believe the City is doing a very good job of funding non-profits.
Members of some non-profit groups have said that the crossing guard program should be paid for by Parent Teacher Associations, or that the schools should fund the crossing guard program. I think these statements are out of touch. The crossing guard program has been under the City of San Jose Police Department since 1945; the HNVF, since 2000. Crossing guards keep our children safe on city streets. In fact when the residents of San Jose were polled in a citywide survey and asked if they wanted the crossing guard program cut, 65 perent said “totally unacceptable.” When the same residents were asked if they supported reducing the amount of money the city gives to non-profits; 62 percent said totally acceptable.
These are harsh economic times where we have to make hard choices, as you and your family do. Therefore, I support tapping the HNVF fund for $1.9 (on a temporary basis) to fund our 64-year-old crossing guard program which leaves over $2 million for HNVF. This proposal does not fire anyone and keeps part-time crossing guards employed and our kids safe on busy streets.
I am not in favor of retaining the crossing guards. I find it a most unnecessary expense…And speaking of unnecessary expenses, just how much does the City of San Jose spend annually on its mounted police program? Perhaps this money could be spent on more worthwhile costs rather than maintaining a “hobby” for the mounted police officers…
Funding for school crossing guards should be increased and not just maintained. We lost our crossing guards at Frost Elementary. We don’t want a child in a coma or even worse a fatality. We want our crossing guards back Besides children safety they are a presence that I believe deters child predators.
How are people selected for these “citywide surveys”? I have lived in Willow Glen since 1980. I have voted in every election. I have never been a part of a citywide survey. Do they just select the same old cronies time after time, as they do for their “Blue Ribbon Commissions”?
THis crossing guard “crisis” came to a head recently when, sadly, a little boy was killed by an illegal immigrant who ran a red light and had no valid drivers license. But he was walking WITH HIS FATHER. Does anyone really believe that a crossing guard is better than a father in protecting his child?
And why does it take $900k of staff time to GIVE AWAY MONEY?
How you can assert that “using $1.9 million for crossing guards does not displace any group nor does using some of the HNVF monies eliminate anyone’s job.”? Are the non-profits receiving the money simply pocketing it. More likely, they use the money to fund jobs supporting underserved people in our community.
For instance, Catholic Charities’ senior programs are funded in part by HNVF. Taking that money away would have a devastating effect, depriving the many seniors that participate of support services.
I don’t understand why the city can’t use volunteers as crossing guards. I am sure there are ways around the liability issues.
Why not tax candy and fast food to pay for this. It would give the added benefit of less overweight kids to pump through our health system
Why not find corporate partners who want access to the “future customers”.
Examples: Coca cola, McDonalds, Kraft Foods, Ace Bail Bonds, Sharpie, Weii, and any number of Spray Paint companies.
They could have crossing guards dress up like Ronald McDonald!
I am glad the city has a “64 year-old crossing guard program.”
However I firmly belive that crossing guards should help all citizens, nut just the 64-year olds.
Pierluigi,
I don’t envy you this decision, but I also don’t think this requires an either or answer to the problem. Many years ago, when I was a student at City College, the college provided a place for day care. The parents of the children took turns watching one another’s kids, or they could not participate in leaving their kids there. There were of course two paid employees who oversaw the day care program, but by requiring parents to provide service, it saved a lot of money.
I hate to bring this up but parents dropping off, or picking up their kids are the ones I see speeding down the street here by Farnham School. Since they are the majority of drivers I see kids crossing the streets needing protection from, they are the ones who should volunteer sometime providing crossing guard services, or should be required to chip in for wages of said crossing guards.
I also think persons with disabilities, or seniors would make awesome volunteers for this, and that a small stipend could be given to them. A short training class, and a stipend would probably cut that 1.9 million dollars in half, and help persons with disabilities, or seniors supplement their income, while feeling productive at the same time. (A side note: Persons with disabilities have a greater difficulty finding employment than almost any other group. There are many grants provided to employers who hire the handicapped. The City should look into that, when looking to fill jobs.)
Why not direct Victor Ajlouny to be a crossing guard. He can be near schools, get fresh air, and actually do some work for the city. San Jose is funding a political consultant on the city payroll, but he is not doing any work. As a crossing guard, Victor can give away that candy he has, see the kids, and be near cars.
One of the things you should consider doing is to use Youth Groups and students in high schools and colleges who are required to get community credits for volunteering, and kids on probation required to do community service for restitution to get involved in this program. It would teach them responsibility, and safe driving practices, as well as give our community’s the crossing guards they need.
In response to JMO’s comment about the driver who hit the father and son crossing with the red light; what kind of bonehead do you have to be not to see a father and son in a crosswalk? It is the kind of bonehead that is too busy thinking about one’s own circumstances to pay attention to the road. I would argue that is exactly the reason we need crossing guards. If you can’t see someone in that shiny fluorescent vest, waving a sigh, then you probably don’t deserve a driver’s license.
When my folks moved to L.A I had just turned seven. I started third grade at a school 1.2 miles from home (funny, I still remember the distance). My folks found a seventh grader who lived nearby, and gave him a quarter/day to walk with me to and from school. We crossed many busy intersections. The next year my Mom considered me responsible enough to walk to school on my own.
As we have seen recently, tragic accidents can happen at any time…even when your Dad is holding your hand as you cross the street together.
Get older sibligs, or neighbors to walk the little kids to school, and teach them safety and responsibility. Remember “look both ways twice before you cross the street”?
And while we’re at it, ticket the hell out of the irresponsible parents who speed their kids to and from school in their cars, stop in no stopping zones to let their pampered little darlings out of the car. I drive down Malone almost daily, from Lincoln to Bird. I see lots of kids walking to the WG campus. They are almost all thin. The kids whose folks drive them to school are almost all fat. What a surprise!!
Particularly in bad economic times, we don’t need to spend taxpayer money on crossing guards. And we have to stop relying on government to do for us things that we can do ourselves.
Whatever happened to “Save the whales”?
#11
And just who is going to “ticket the hell out of the irresponsible parents?”
Last I read both CHP and SJPD staffing levels are way below what is needed. We can imagine the situation will only get worse. In our area, we have not seen SJPD working any type of traffic enforcement detail for years.
We just keep spending and spending. I’m screaming Uncle and no one in government is listening. Is it crossing guards now? My kids go to private school, in which they do not provide crossing guards. The school expects parents to take resposibilty once the child is let out of school. Why can’t our public schools do the same?
Volunteer crossing guards sounds nice but with both parents working and raising a family it is near impossible to volunteer during those hours. Our crossing guards that are now gone at Frost worked no matter what the weather was outside. We do volunteer on the weekends and after work but not during the work day.
#14 Katie
Reading the post San Jose has been providing crossing guards for over 50 years. Your screaming on spending should be directed at labor unions who spend your money not at the hourly part time crossing guards who do not get benefits.
Exactly, Steve #13—there is no enforcement. The last two times Chief Davis has been on KLIV, parents called to complain about the chaos @ their kid’s school every morning. He promises to do something about it…but it seems that hasn’t happened as yet. He talks a great game.
$1.9 million for crossing guards would buy us a few cops.
Katie #14 inquires:“The school expects parents to take resposibilty once the child is let out of school. Why can’t our public schools do the same?” Ask Obama, Katie—he believes government can and should do everything for us from cradle to grave. And that’s what parents want—someone to do much of their job for them. Ask any teacher.
I agree with you hard choices need to be made. Keep the crossing guards at Bret Harte and others schools as well.
Let me see here. Each year the City of San Jose spends;
$2 million for “homework centers”.
$2 million for other peoples kids health insurance.
$30 million for non-profits.
$900 thousand to pay city “workers” to figure out how to spend $8 million of extorted tobacco company money.
I don’t want to hear any more talk about how Proposition 13 is responsible for our budget problems.
I AM a San Jose school crossing guard and have been for 5 years. I don’t know where to start. I have seen some of the comments posted by people and am completely astonished by the ignorance of some people. Above one person made a comment about whether that father and little boy would have been hit if there was a guard. Well I can tell you that I stop parents with children all the time who are about to step out into the street when someone is blowing through the red light. I have on many occasions showed up at my post and found the signals to be out, all of us have been through an intersection in a car while the lights have been blinking and know how scary it can be to “take your turn.” How do you think the kids feel when they have to try to cross the street. I have at least 20 kindergarden children come by in the mornings, when it’s dark, without their parents. These kids, some of them are not even as tall as the “push button to cross street” sign. The public who are apposed to the crossing guard program must not have small children who walk to school, or they would understand the signifigance of the job.
I am a crossing guard.you are talking abt volunteers..it is VOLUNTEER not a job so do you think that they will be out there in the rain? or cold? or just not feel like going! I cross 6-8th graders and people have said why not let high school or college students do the job.Well they are the ones running the stop sign and speeding well over the speed limit! how is that going to work? I have been hit in the knee by a car! I have had to ruch kids out of the way of a car several times cause they didnt see them.Or have an older child walk your kid to school? Times have changed since back then .It is called Peer Pressure that is not cool. Try standing out there on one of our shifts and see what it takes… I love my kids and parents and we communicate very well. I also know what kid goes with what car. And who usually doesnt belong around there.I sure would like to a Volunteer know this. We also have alot of special need kids and it sure is nice to know that they trust us,, If they see a different person all the time how is that going to be?? All I ask is that you go to a corner where I or my co-workers work and See the job we do …
Miller Middle School
crossing guard
“We spend more than $900,000 on staff to manage the HNVF”
It’d be nice if they didn’t “manage” it so much.
How about spending $1.8 mil next year on crossing guards, and $100k to study why on earth it takes $900k to manage the spending of money.
A portion of the funds could also pay for 2 cops to ticket brain-dead parents who drive dangerously near schools.
The problem with getting volunteers to do it is that we all know that volunteers don’t always show up. It is also important that the children and parents have consistancy with the rules and what is exceptable and what is not. It is important for the Police department to screen and manage “us”. If you want the public to actually listen to and respect crossing guards, it is important that they know that we are affiliated with P.D. I have witnessed many bad traffic accidents at my intersection. It is essential that when things like that occour that there is a responsible person there to manage the children and get them on their way home instead of them standing around and loitering. Also a major concern to my corner is that we are one block away from SJ Fire Station 4, a very busy station, they come through with lights and sirens at least five times a day while we are there. I can’t tell you how many times I have stopped kids and PARENTS from crossing in front of the fire apparatus. Everyone blogging here is about the money and how much it costs to maintain the program, well I will tell you all that if we are done away with, the accident and death rate of pedestrians will increase substantially, mark my words. Then the true cost of losing us will be brought to light.
I ask all of you to remember that “right wrongs nobody!”
My daughter is a san jose crossing guard, and they do a great job in saving the lives of children, and sometimes their parents also.
They are screened thoroughly and also drug tested, so you are sure of who is watching your children. It would be a shame for this 64 year old program to end, after all it has proved its worth , or would not have been in force for all these years.
posted by sharon in santa clara on tuesday feb 10
Regardless of whether or not crossing guards are effective, I agree 100% with Pat from Catholic Charities that taking money from HNVF funds will only serve to devastate other programs that serve San Jose seniors and youth. My agency, Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley, receives HNVF funds for senior wellness programs. This money is critical in giving access to much-needed medical care for refugee seniors, largely in the Willow Glen area. Please continue your debate over crossing guards; just leave the HNVF funds out of it!
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley asks that you seriously reconsider your idea of diverting HNVF funds to pay for school crossing guards. We currently receive City of San Jose HNVF funding for two exemplary youth development programs serving low income, high risk youth in San Jose. By reducing the amount of funds available to the nonprofit community serving disadvantaged youth and senior populations residing in your districts, this will severely reduce critical services to these residents.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley provides a comprehensive Health & Life Skills program and a comprehensive Technology program with the help of HNVF funds. In our Health and Life Skills (prevention) program, we utilize trained and certified youth development and health professionals to teach resistance skills to our young members, and provide them with the tools they need to avoid becoming involved with gangs, drugs and alcohol, premarital sex and other potentially dangerous and destructive behaviors. Along with resistance skills, our members develop their nutrition and fitness awareness and appreciation, healthy self-esteem and self confidence, and they choose to delay parenthood. HNVF funds provide $37,500 to serve more than 800 unduplicated youth at six sites in San Jose (Districts 2, 3 &8) year-round. We match HNVF funds in order to continue these important services in high-risk neighborhoods identified by the Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force.
We are also funded to provide a Youth Technology program at two locations in San Jose (Districts 2 & 8). This program helps disadvantaged, high risk youth develop critically needed computer skills for their education, career development, and employability. One aspect of this technology program is to teach young kids Internet safety and resistance to internet predators. It also allows parents to participate in some of the training that their children receive. HNVF funds provide $34,297 to serve more than 700 unduplicated youth year-round. We secure the additional 70% of funding needed to pay for this unique and innovative program for children who do not otherwise have access to technology.
All in all, we provide a match of $2.40 for every $1.00 invested in our youth by the HNVF program. This is a very cost-effective way to get much needed services provided by trained professionals into the communities that need them the most. Please do not divert funding from these critical programs for youth and seniors, particularly to address a need that can be met by volunteers. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.
Sincerely,
Dana Fraticelli,
Chief Executive Officer
Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley
San Jose Jazz educates San Jose school children about the harmful effects of tobacco use through its Get Jazzed! program which reaches just under 5,000 students annually. San Jose Jazz utilizes an approach, “Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control,” developed by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC). Over the last eight years, according to surveys, the program has reached over 40,000 students and succeeded at influencing over 95% of them to take a position against tobacco.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
“The younger people begin smoking cigarettes, the more likely they are to become strongly addicted to nicotine.”
“Every day, approximately 4,000 American youth aged 12-17 try their first cigarette. If current patterns of smoking behavior continue, an estimated 6.4 million of today’s children can be expected to die prematurely from a smoking-related disease.”
According to the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign:
“Three-quarters of young people who use tobacco daily continue to do so because they find it hard to quit.”
“More than 400,000 Americans die from tobacco-related causes each year, and most of them began using tobacco before the age of 18.”
I am a crossing guard at Trace Elementary,and I see all kinds of things and people driving irresponsibly.Yes some parents are to blame,but the majority are other drivers too. And yes we put our live’s on the line. We are there rain or shine to protect our children and others who cross. I do see alot of reckless drivers who run the lights or who make illegal turns. Yes we put our lives on the line and have been almost hit and verbaly abused because of irresponsible drivers. You people who are complaining because of the monies.You need to get yourselves out there and really see what we do.So until you see what we have to put up with,then quit your complaining… We Need The Crossing Guards
Councilmember Oliverio,
I am surprised that you never raised this issue before?
You were, in fact, a member of the HNVF Advisory Committee in 2008 when the committee, staff, and many community members came together, over the course of a year, to develop the HNVF strategic plan.
You did, in fact, vote to approve the strategic work plan which recommended continued support for HNVF funded services.
Would you still be making this request had you NOT been removed from this committee?
#26 #27 #28
Here comes the “my non profit is more important then crossing guards” group.
Public safety should not suffer because of a recession however non core services should be cut.
Where does it say in the city charter that we have to provide $30 million for non profits? Core city services our police, fire, roads, crossing guards, emergency prepardness.
The city should take all the tobacco money and use it to pay for core city services like every other city does that gets the money.
The above mention that they do not want funds to be taken away from their programs to fund the crossing guard position, well I want to know how many of the “Boys and Girls” from the Boys and Girls program get crossed by guards on their way too and from school. It doesn’t do much good to have programs for at risk teens if they never live to being a teenager because they get run over. Or how many of the seniors that use the Jewish Family Services wellness program also get safely crossed by a guard. What’s good being well if they get run down. We don’t just cross children you know. We are just a few blocks from Valley Medical, one block from the Korean Community Center, one block from San Jose City College and close to the Blossom Rehabilitation center. I cross disabled people multiple times a day. I have had a many of them tell me how they have been hit or almost hit by cars, and that they like it when we are there. Just last year one of our kids got hit by a car on a bicycle, not out of sight from where I stand. I agree that everyone needs to give and take…but if funds need to be temporarily diverted to maintain the School Crossing Guard Program it’s a small price to pay to save a life. If the City is interested in funding our program from other means I can suggest having P.D. do more “operation safe passage” days, raising the ticket fines for speeding in school zones and then enforcing that law more. Both of my cross streets are 35 mph…people seldom go less than 40, and I will agree with an above comment that many of the people speeding through are parents that just dropped off or are picking up their child. If we start ticketing them more then truely, the parent’s will be paying for our program.
Once these tobacco companies are sued and taxed out of business, who are you people going to take money from then? These handouts have to come from somewhere right? Just want to see who’s next on the list…
#26
Your Religious organization is in Los Gatos.
Why should the city of San Jose fund your organization?
I have been a crossing guard for twenty years. My job is to keep children safe and out of harm’s way. In my twenty years, I have seen it all: cars running red lights and stop signs; drivers making illegal U-turns; speeding in school zones; parents crossing their children in the middle of the street(jaywalking); and, almost being hit many times by drivers not paying attention. I would invite council members, parents and anyone else who doesn’t believe that crossing guards are necessary, to spend some time with their neighborhood crossing guard and see how needed they are. Regarding volunteers, do you really want a potential child molester or someone who could do harm to your child, to cross them?? Will volunteers be on duty when it is cold, hot, raining, or their child is home sick??
#31, it’s not about making a choice between non-profits & crossing guards; that’s a red herring. It’s about protecting money that is currently outside the general fund from the special interest groups that feed at the city trough. Using $1.9M of the HNVF fund (which is not part of the general fund) to cover general fund expenses is the beginning of a slide down a very slippery slope.
And the budget situation is going to get worse. In addition to the large declines in city managed pension funds, Calpers saw an $85 billion decline in the past 18 months or so. Making up the difference in unfunded pension liabilities will come from our pockets.
I for one find it very sad to see these non-profits coming on here, and going to Council Meetings fighting to keep money that should be shared with such a vital program like crossing guards. There may not be a lot of money to go around, but something is better than nothing!
I do not have children but I firmly believe these children need protection from these insane drivers. I live right next to Farnham School and I can tell you that I’m just waiting for the day one of these nuts hit a child and a crossing guard! This type of service is badly needed and should not suffer because you non-profits are so self consumed that you are forgetting the importance of child safety. Have some integrity and learn how to share. And we wonder why kids today are so blind to the needs of others, and selfish!
#33-Tobacco Extortion,
I too find it hypocritical of these folks to say smoking is horrible, but they are happy to take money from tobacco companies and don’t feel bad about it. They are quick to justify the use of this money by showing how much good they are doing with the money they get. I don’t get this “Do as I say, not as I do,” double standard these folks live by. No wonder kids are so confused about proper ethics and behavior!
I guess the millions of people smoking and paying outrageous taxes on cigarettes should be thanked not sneered at and snubbed by these hypocrites, after all their bad habit is funding some very important programs!
![wink](https://www.sanjoseinside.com/images/smileys/wink.gif)
Jan,
I support funding crossing guard programs, but I think you are going a bit too far in your tripe about volunteers being potential child molesters. Come on and get real. Any one who works with children are subject to the exact same background checks, and training you are. And I think you are all being ridiculous about the commitment of volunteers. I volunteer for many vital causes, and know MANY programs that survive solely on the assistance of volunteers. So move past that, and quit while you’re ahead!
if they get volunteers to do this job there WONT be background checks HELLO!!!So read it before you type,Im a crossing guard for the last five years & its a job you have to really like its hard taking the verbal abuse from drivers when your just doing your JOB!!Yes I think all the big wigs need to come to all the corners for a shift when the weather is bad or otherwise and see the hard work we all do for the kids & parents!!!!!
Does it really cost 1.9 million dollars to pay for 100 part-time crossing guards?
As an employee of a non-profit, I can tell you that MOST DEFINITELY people will lose jobs if you take this money away from the hundreds of organizations that worked extremely hard to meet the deadline (Jan 12, 2009) to apply for this money.
I would like to share what one organization has done with the HNVF funding:
With a staff of three part-time instructors and $25,000 of HNVF funding, Generations Community Wellness is reaching 300 low-income seniors with ongoing fitness and nutrition classes, dramatically decreasing the likelihood of fall-related injuries and depression, while improving the quality of life of our most underserved seniors.
Generations Community Wellness has stretched our resources to the extreme to reach and serve 300 older adults on an ongoing basis. Our plan is to provide them with continuous services even in this recession. We have a waiting list of 25 City of San Jose Senior facilities requesting our direct services including Willows Senior Center, Evergreen Senior Program, and Cypress Senior Center.
Generations Community Wellness has requested $120,000 of the Healthy Neighborhood Venture Fund money to reach 15 sites and almost 1000 older adults in 2009-10.
In this time of budget cuts and fiscal responsibility, the City should be concerned with funding programs that have the greatest impact on the greatest need and number in San Jose.
How about funding a non-profit to pay crossing guards? It would not cost 1.9 million dollars.
To all the non-profit organizations that are arguing against using HNVF moneys for crossing guards: You have all known HNVF money was a TEMPORARY source of funding to begin with; and that it requires a competitive application process. It is not money you are guaranteed. It should have been treated as a source of funds that could disappear at any moment.
I do not deny that many of the non-profits listed here provide an excellent service to our community, and are valuable. To argue however, that your program is more valuable than a crossing guard is hypocritical, because you are all protecting children in one-way or another. Your goal should be to collaborate with one another, share resources to benefit children, and find alternative sources of income. I fear that if you continue this practice of undermining one another the only ones who are going to lose here will be the children.
I find it terribly sad that the approach to this important issue includes pitting one segment of the community against another. All of the causes mentioned are worthy and essential. Each(including the crossing guards) enhance the quality of life we have come to rely on in San Jose. Next Door receives HNVF funds to aid older victims of domestic violence, providing a unique program that strengthens the level of safety for a vulnerable population. As with our contemporaries, our nonprofit safety net service is suffering greatly from the economic downfall.
We are engulfed in an economic crisis many of us have never experienced. This is not the time or place to use divisive tactics to address pressing community issues.
Let’s ask our public officials to maintain healthy problem solving approaches bringing residents together rather than drawing the imaginary pie and asking us to fight over each piece. It may be tempting but in the end it is ineffective.
Let’s take the cue from the new federal administration and reduce the level of rancor, apply intelligent creative options in appropriate forums (in this case, the budget process)and work together, not against each other, to truly solve community problems.
Let’s do some fun math for the government leaders that wish to take away 1.9 million from non-profits on shoe-string budgets serving the health and wellness needs of thousands of San Jose residents:
The math pencils out to over $96 per hour. If I was a full time crossing guard, I would make $193,536 per year. What a great use of tax payer dollars. Is 1.9M is what it takes to fund this program? I propose the City gives 1.9M to our non-profit. For the same amount of money, we will create a sustainable volunteer crossing guard program assuring every kid in San Jose safely crosses the street, and we will fund healthy fruit and veggie snacks for them to eat as they walk home.
No Math 101, if you were a full time crossing guard, which there are none… They are paid by the hour for 2 hours a day. But, if there were such a thing you would make a little over 25k a year. $193,536 per year? What’s wrong with you?
“Singin’ songs and carryin’ signs
Mostly say Hooray for our Side!
Buffalo Springfield. “For What It’s Worth”, 1967, or so.
You really chummed the waters with this one, Pierluigi.
Did all y’all see the cover of this weeks Newsweek? In bold letters it proclaims :“WE ARE ALL SOCIALISTS NOW”.
The pie is getting smaller, but the knives of those wanting a piece of it are definitely getting sharper.
my mom is a crossing guard and i used to think that there was no need for crossing guards. the kids can walk themselves. But, when you have many parents who are rushing thier kids to school so that they can get to work, they DONT CARE where they park, they dont pay attention 100% to the stop signs around, let alone the kids who are not using the crosswalk and crossing the traffic. crossing guards help keep chidren safe and make traffic go by quicker. There is a large amount of parent who stp in the middle of the street and hold up traffic while thier kids get out of the car. A lot of parents also park in red zones and get out of the car.
Crossing guards are needed
Don’t think Crossing Guards are needed? Then check out the intersection of Branham and Cherry. Just stand in the Quik-Stop parking lot and see what happens at about 2:05pm.
Literally hundreds of kids flow out of John Muir Middle School all at one time. A couple of hundred cross that intersection twice a day. In the mornings there is a terrific amount of traffic going to the school, but even more traffic heading north on Cherry to avoid the Branham/Alamaden Expressway mess.
I’m a crossing guard there. Before that intersection was posted with guards, children were weaving in and out of traffic and cars were weaving in and out of the kids. Traffic at times came to a complete stand still because of the congestion. Every day we see several red light violations. Every day we are stopping several 6th to 8th graders (just being 6th to 8th graders)from stepping out into oncoming traffic. Every day there is a close call. I have had several drivers lean out their windows thanking us for being there. They say traffic flows much smoother and it is a lot less stressful when driving through the area.
Some say volunteers are the way to go. Ah, right! I saw that in Sacramento years ago. As soon as it started raining or it got cold they didn’t show up.
There are 200 people in crossing guard program according to the memo. $9,500 per person per year. However there no longer crossing guards at Frost Elementary.
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/clerk/CommitteeAgenda/Rules/20090211/rules20090211_1003.pdf
Hey #42,
Um, crossing guards work on average 2 hours a day. Use your math pencil on that. You wouldn’t be a full time crossing guard. There is no such thing. No vacation pay, no sick pay, no holiday pay, no benefits what-so-ever.
Just curious,which non-profit is going to run the program that you suggest? Oh, and what are you going to pay those crossing guards? Remember, you need to get them to keep coming back every day. Easy??? Go out and try it yourself. Ya…I didn’t think so.
I would like any of you adults that seem to think that Volunteers can do the job come out to any of the crossing guards corners for the shift in the A.M and P.M and see what its all about.. I cross seniors as well and are very thankful
We even cross the seniors and kids that go to your non profit
places..so have you ever wondered how they get there
safely…such as the office you have at BURBANK SCHOOL
and have helped your employees and the kids who volunteer for you cross safely???
Until the City gets serious about traffic enforcement the Crossing Guards are only a stop-gap measure. They are certainly important and needed but they can’t do anything about the steady stream of violators. The street by the school near me is a speedway. Once or twice a year there is traffic enforcement. The rest of the year drivers speed through the school zone, blow through red lights, etc. The Crossing Guards provide a valuable service but they are only a partial solution to the problem.
Why not charge a bunch of nightclubs. These are their clients anyway!
Sad to see all the non-profits attacking children and their crossing guards. Is there any point at which the non-profits will acknowledge a need greater than their own organization? What if San Jose cuts funding for crossing guards and children are injured or killed? Would residents feel comforted by the fact that groups like the San Jose Jazz club got the HNVF money instead?
#36 pat is probably right. Public safety shouldn’t be funded by a temporary source.
Moving crossing guards to this type of money gently nudges it off of the plate of obligation to fight for room on a pie-plate of with other non-essential services.
Next thing you know in 8yrs when the tobacco money runs out, there will have to be a ballot measure to increase taxes to pay for crossing guards.
#53. P.O.
You referred to several people and said “thanks for your service” This term has come into recent usage when referring to military veterans. Did you know that crossing guards are not military veterans? I think you could use some other term. Thank you.
53 – And what about the lack of traffic enforcement???
First thank you to all who participated on this weeks blog.
#1
Outside of the police salary which is fixed it costs approx $100,000 to care for all the horses each year.
#2
Agree
#3
Half are done by a random computer generated list of phone numbers that have a prefix that is known to be San Jose. The other half are likely voters. JMO I have never been called either and I believe you lived in a county pocket for many years west of Meridian Ave?
On why $900K to oversee the program just the way it is when you create a new program.
#4
It is a core services discussion. What do you believe to be a core service? I believe that a program that promotes public safety like crossing guards is core plus we have done so since 1945. HNVF funds were never to be intended for groups to depend on the money each year but rather a way to fund innovative programs as seed money versus ongoing.Volunteers are great to augment city services however they cannot replace.
#7
I like Gilda Radner as well.
#8
Good point on outreaching to the disabled community
#10
Like the idea about high school however they may need to be over 18 in the age of a litigious society
#13
You are correct our traffic enforcement unit roams around the city however cannot be everywhere however I believe technology can help here
#14
The crossing guard program is very inexpensive compared to other services government provides. Invite you to attend a budget meeting and learn more March 12 in District 6.
#22 #23
Thanks for your service
#26
Is the program you provide more important then public safety? I often spend time our Willows Community Center on Lincoln where the city provides many programs for seniors.
#27
Yes you provide a great service however should you depend on the city every year?
The memo is only asking to temporarily use these funds during the current recession. Some people advocate taking the entire amount of $9 million and using for city services. Surely your private donations ebb and flow with the economy the same is true from government who is suffering from massive deficits.
#28
I really enjoy Jazz.
However is it more important then public safety?
#29
Thank you for service
#30
My term on HNVF finished in 2008.
The Neighborhood Budget Meeting in January proposes the elimination of the crossing guard program. I would still make this proposal if I was serving on HNVF, in fact the memo states that after the Rules it should go to HNVF first before going to the full council
#34
They are in Los Gatos and they get San Jose funds?
#36
All other cities that have these funds put it in the general fund
#39
Read the memo for clarification
#40
Good point. Your remember as it was being set up.
#41
The Federal government can print money all day and leave a massive debt to our next generation. Cities must balance their budgets.
#42
Wow that is way off.
Crossing guards get paid $14 a hour and receive no medical benefits.
#43
:+)
#46
Thanks for your service
#47
Much better math #39 and #42
#51
Insightful
To those who believe this is crossing guards versus non-profits, please stop. The question is about how to divvy up the pie. There are many variables, and simply looking at it as NP vs. CG is oversimplification.
Again, though, in my mind it is a question of forcing the city’s general fund to live within its own means. While P.O. frames this as a temporary measure, have you ever known government to let go of money once they get their hands on it? (No offence to you P.O.)
The tobacco money will run out…then what. Will we be chosing between stoplights and crossing guards, street lights and crossing guards? We might as well face the issue head on today rather than punting it to the future.
Pierluigi #53: Thanks for all the responses.
I have never lived in a county pocket west of Meridian. I lived for many years near Bird & Minnesota and now live near Foxworthy & Plummer.
As to the “just the way it is when you create a new program” (responding to why it takes $900k to administer the “tobacco money”), I respond that is what’s wrong with government. They tax you, then take a big chunk off the top to administer YOUR MONEY and give the rest to other people that government has deemed more deserving of your hard earned money than you are. Business as usual in SJ. So much for “Change”.
Re your response to # 4 that “plus we have done so since 1945”: Boy, there’s certainaly a great reason—‘cuz we’ve done so for my entire lifetime. Let’s see, I suppose if you’d asked Bull Conner why he let the dogs loose on demonstrators seeking racial equality, his response of “‘cuz we’ve been doing it since 1600 & sumthin’” would be acceptable to you.
#14 asked “The [private]school [my children attend]expects parents to take resposibilty once the child is let out of school. Why can’t our public schools do the same?”
You didn’t answer her question, Pierluigi. If private school kids can get to and from school apparently without wholesale carnage, why can’t public school kids do the same?
Your response to #26 begs the question. I’m sure that if there were significant injuries/deaths in the streets around private schools we would all hear about it. If the program is so vital, why isn’t it at every school, public, private, and charter? Why, because there isn’t enough $$. So, how are the lucky schools who get crossing guards chosen to receive this government largesse? The Constitution requires equal protection under the laws. Next we’ll get a lawsuit when a kid is hurt in a school where there are no crossing guards on an equal protection argument. Maybe where that’s where some of the $900k to administer the tobacco money goes—civil servants dithering over who gets some and who doesn’t.
As an advocate for seniors, I am very disappointed with your recent, proposal of redirecting 1.9M to the school crossing guard program. It is clearly spelled out in its HNVF application package when the tobacco industry settled its case and agreed to payout 9M-11M a year for the next 25 years to the City of San Jose, 50% of available fund will support senior programs and 50% will support youth programs. As in 2008-2009, 2M has allocated to the children health initiative and 2M to the afternoon program. It is very irresponsible and disrespectul to steal another 1.9M from the seniors in order to pay for more cross guards for children. Seniors in San Jose will be triple in the next 20 years and we should invest more resources to a wide range of services so they can remain in the community independently and in dignity.
It is not fair to trade tangible benefits for potential benefits. Most of the senior service providers rely on HNVF so we could provide hot meals, social activities and transportation to prevent isolation and depression. They often live alone and no one to take care of them, they need our help, and these are real tangible benefits you are taking away from them. School kids, on the other hand, should rely on their own parents and school staffs to protect them. It is not guarantee coss walk accidents will cut down in half if you double the number of the crossing guards. Accident will occur if a driver is drunk or just driving carelessly. We need practical solutions, not more ideas from ivory towers.
Virginia
Pierluigi,
Thank you for asking for our input. I wish you luck in trying to resolve this since sharing doesn’t seem to be something these nonprofits understand in these very difficult times. As to volunteers, I have used high school, and college students for pet fairs, and fund raisers. They do an excellent job. No, they are not usually 18 years old; some are, but Dr. Reed’s Liability Insurance covers teen’s age 15 and up. You might look into how little Liability Insurance runs compared to paying a salary.
P.S.
(I watched part of the Council Meeting yesterday, thanks for asking that the next survey be sent out to a larger group next time!)
To those of you claiming volunteers wouldn’t show up on a hot, rainy, or cold day that is just silly. Animal rescue groups and even some shelters are completely run by volunteers, save cities and counties MILLIONS of dollars, and work harder than most paid, benefited personnel at shelters.
Every huge non-profit from the American Cancer Society, to the Meals on Wheels Program are heavily dependent on volunteers and are successful. Don’t knock volunteers. They provide a lot of help to companies, cities, and counties in need, volunteers learn a lot from doing it, and it is one hell of a resume builder!
#54…Have you lost your mind? We do provide a service. Just like the Postal Service that brings your mail we work rain or shine. Service is not a word dedicated to our US MILITARY. People who work at soup kitchens provide a service, people who bring you your food at restraunts work in the Food Service Industry, and the people that write your your parking tickets are often called Public Service Officers. Please don’t discount our jobs just because you don’t happen to think we are needed. I am on my way out the door right now to go stand in the rain for two hours and make sure my “kiddies” get across the street safely![smile](https://www.sanjoseinside.com/images/smileys/smile.gif)
P.S. My brother is a Marine and he would be happy to tell you that being a crossing guard providing service; we are protecting the public.
#58-This money is a temporary source of funding. If the tobacco companies fold like so many other companies have, what are you going to do then? You should be looking for other funding year around.
Secondly, seniors have more funding resources and grants than crossing guards, or many other groups. The same argument you give about crossing guards can be applied to your situation. Why can’t families of seniors chip in to help?
The bottom line is that you all need to share. And Pat Waite is partially correct, it needs to be addressed and settled once and for all.
#60.LIZ.
Do you know what AD HOMINEM means?
Do you know the difference between DENOTATION
and CONNOTATION?
I admire your ability to know what I think.
I admire your ability to know what your brother would say.
JMO #57 says:
#14 asked “The [private]school [my children attend]expects parents to take resposibilty once the child is let out of school. Why can’t our public schools do the same?”
You didn’t answer her question, Pierluigi. If private school kids can get to and from school apparently without wholesale carnage, why can’t public school kids do the same?
Public schools, by their nature, are neighborhood schools. Children are encouraged to walk to school and many do. The schools were not designed to handle the traffic that arises if everyone drives and drops off their children. When children walk, they inevitably have to cross streets with traffic. Private schools usually draw from a larger area and therefore most of their students are not walking to school.
Nice theory, David #63, but read several of the posts above, and hang out at a public school—the little nippers are driven in droves by their parents.
Ok, here are some things to think on: Having volunteers is a bad idea. How, unless there are background checks, can we be certain who’s crossing the children? Word gets out, there will be tons of freaks. Rumor has it a person with a tainted background had already tried applying. Imagine if this were reduced to volunteers! Let’s see, the money they want to use is settlement monies. I see no mention of out-of-pocket there. Makes sense. The program supplements incomes for many retirees and gives them joy. Should we take that away? Do we really need another child hit and next time perhaps killed? Trust me on this: take away crossing guards and paid ones to boot, an innocent child or parent/guardian gets hit and seriously injured or killed. It’s going to cost FAR MORE than the monies being discussed to settle a lawsuit. And just where will THAT money come from? Our city’s budget already looks like one ofthe Olsen twins’ waistline anyhow. Imagine having to come up with millions to settle a lawsuit. I think it can be said this way best: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This program has been around long enough and it’s track record speaks for itself. Let one of the recipients of the tobacco settlements fo fund raisers to recoup the lost revenue.
instead of all these people talking abt volunteers would work
PLEASE come out and work our shift with us.As for the senior citizens.I cross alot and they are very thankful.Some of these kids won’t make it to senior citizen status if we dont make sure they make it to point A to point B.Has anybody checked Megans Law website and see how many live by the schools??
Not only do we cross.we know unfamiliar faces.So you non-profit organiztion quit being SELFISH,Or better idea why dont we tax the ALCOHOL companies as well!! Some of you(jazz)
talk abt smoking…some of you have a drink here and there so feel free to observe our shift
Miller Middle School
Crossing Guard
JMO #64. I have spent lots of time at public schools in my district. Yes, many parents drive their children, but not all of them. The driving culture has added to the problem for those who walk. The families who live within a quarter mile radius still often walk with children to school (or send the older ones by themselves). The schools and the roads around them were not designed to handle the combined auto/foot traffic. Even 1/2 of the kinds arriving by car creates the traffic jams being described. The other half need measures to keep them safe. It used to be that kids were bussed to school, but that is another casualty of our society’s unwillingness to pay for all the elements of education. First, we’ve eliminated busing, now folks want to eliminate crossing guards. We have some level of obligation to create a safe environment for our kids in school and to get to school.
oops, that’s David #67
In tough times like these, we must ensure that dollars are spent wisely. A crossing guard program can be entirely voluntary. It does not need funding at all to exist. I’m 100% that each school can involve parents to devote some time to help children cross the roads. In addition, this type of program requires little, if any training.
There is no such thing as a reliable funding source.
Ask companies what their “reliable funding source” is and they will most likely laugh. Staying in business by doing business differently—lay offs, reductions, increasing sales by various means—-these are the ways that companies stay in business. If one doesn’t manage a business productively, then bankruptcy is an out.
The city is directly reliant on fees and taxes which are the city’s primary funding sources, but they are far from reliable. When property values go down, as they currently have, so does the revenue the city receives. When the planning department has less work then we receive less fees. When the City allows affordable housing without park fees and construction fees. As a result, the city loses money for parks and road paving. The list goes on.
Re-inventing oneself, doing business differently making reductions all contribute to staying in business…and one has to stay in business to have any sort of a “reliable funding source.”
So, Pierluigi #71, why do we fund a cultural affairs group of folks on the city payroll, with benefits extending to infinity when our roads are Third World and we need more cops and firefighters?
All y’all gotta get REAL in today’s new fiscal environment. As nice as these sorts of things are, they should be WAY DOWN THE LIST when money is short.
David #64—you still don’t address the question of how private school keds manage to avoide wholesale carnage without the aid of crossing guards
Parents are an underutilized resource in regards to crossing guards. We live in an economy that requires 2 income families, but parents are willing to volunteer at their child’s school to give back, build assets and promote safety. I volunteer every morning at my child’s school as the safety patrol parent and it is very rewarding. I work full time at least 70 hours a week and having that 30 minutes in the morning to give to my community is rewarding and it does not impact the budget. In this time of economic stress, it is important to utilize parents as volunteers where we can and ensure that monies are available for the non-profits that the community needs where parents are not able to be utilized as much.Our non-profits can not survive if there are more funds cut and taken from them. This will cause more repercussions in the communities that can and will impact the budget further. I am not for funding the crossing guards and I am for utilizing parents to ensure the safety of the children at schools, we all need to work together to make this happen.
thanks for your time
Susie,
You are listed as an employee of a Milpitas non-profit:
http://flyprogram.org/board_and_staff.html
We need more certified public accountants on this blog vs people that have a self-interest.
#74-Long Term Debt in Winchester,
If this is true, and if this is the same Susie Rivera, thanks for exposing this person for who and what they are. I guess saving her job is more important than child safety. Sad that some non-profits are stooping this low, but not surprising, you should watch them at the Council meetings; they are like hungry animals fighting over a bone. When it comes to money people always show their true colors.
The whole idea of “non-profits can’t survive if more funds get cut” is sickening.
These are people who lobby to literally steal money via taxes, then hand it out under the guise that they are noble people for not working “for-profit.”
The organizations certainly have a place in every community, but the money should be privately raised and donated, not forcibly taken. And most employees should be volunteers.
Even worse, significant amounts of money are lost in the “administration” of handing out other people’s assets.
It has become a very sad realization for me, that most of those who work for non-profits are leeching off the good christian values most americans have.
I have no dog in this hunt, but have to chuckle at the wildly uninformed comments here. As an example, #76 says “…that most of those who work for non-profits are leeching off the good christian values most americans have.” Of course there is not a shred of evidence to support this inane statement. Perhaps some nonprofits, just like some for-profits, are not run in the best manner, but many of these organizations do fine work and operate responsibly. If it weren’t for many of these non-profits providing much needed services, who do you think would provide these programs?
Pitting nonprofits against crossing guards is unconscionable—both are valuable services. Saving lives occurs in many different ways and not just on the streets. We ought to be working together to take care of each other instead of attacking each other.
Well the city of San jose is at it again they are trying to do away with the school safety crossing guard program again,They are trying to hire a new group of people that have no experience.and no CRIMINAL background check.Would you like your kids to be crossed by these people with no uniform just a whistle and stop sign…Once the program that is with the police dept will no longer bei they will wash their hands with us.This is just a Lawsuit waiting to happens.Please call the mayors office or your assemblyman in your district or there is a facebook page titled..Save San Jose Crossing Guards…put a like and a comment
thank
a concerned crossing guard
We have cut expenses everywhere we can and now we want to put the safety of our children at risk. Anyone who has worked at a school and tried to enlist volunteers to do ANYTHING on a consistant basis knows how stupid, yes stupid, it would be to try to get parents, neighbors, etc. to volunteer as crossing guards. It is not just the drivers we need to worry about, but many children are in their own “space” before and after school and need the assistance of reliable adults to help them get to and from school on a daily basis. Crossing guards are absolutely necessary for our children and it is criminal to even think about replacing them.