Some ABQ Businesses Are More Important Than Others

Albuquerque City Councilor Patrick Davis has introduced a bill that would allow some businesses to get tax money to buy extra police protection. 
The businesses would be able to get up to $50,000 in taxpayers' money to form Safety Assistance Security Zones. They'd have to match that $50,000 dollar-for-dollar and they'd be able to use the money to hire private security guards, install security cameras and so forth. The problem is that only certain types of businesses would qualify. And, aren't we already paying taxes to provide uniform police protection throughout the city?

Here are the types of businesses that would qualify for extra tax dollars for rime fighting:

"The area is a commercial or arts and cultural district with significant 20 economic development, art or cultural impact, tourist-related facilities 21 and attractions or tourist-related transportation systems, or is of other 22 significant importance to the city. The area cannot be primarily 23 residential in nature."

Bottom line: this is double taxation and the city picking winners and losers.

Dan Klein and I discuss the downfalls of this proposed ordinance in our latest podcast.