A BILL TO INCREASE THE POLICE PRESENCE IN DOWNTOWN ALBUQUERQUE WAS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL LAST (MON) NIGHT … BUT WAS TABLED UNTIL TWO WEEKS FROM NOW. COUNCILOR ISAAC BENTON HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE MEASURE FOR SOME TIME, AND SAYS HE'S HEARD COMPLAINTS FROM CONSTITUENTS FOR EIGHT YEARS NOW ON HOW BAD THE CRIME IS IN THEIR AREA. HE SAYS THE PROBLEM DOWNTOWN IS A THE AGGRESSIVE STREET CULTURE.
BENTON TELLS 770 KKOB HE MET WITH CHIEF ALLEN BANKS LAST FRIDAY TO FURTHER EXPLAIN THE BILL AND HOW THE FUNDING IS ALREADY IN THE CITY'S ANNUAL BUDGET. HE SAYS THERE'S ALWAYS MONEY LEFT OVER BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT IS BUDGETED FOR 11-HUNDRED OFFICERS … WHICH IT DOESN'T HAVE.
