Global and national economic woes have trickled down to the city, county and community, with City Council considering sweeping budget cuts and local retailers fearing a bleak holiday shopping season. Not all the news is bad, though. Capt. Shelley Zimmerman of the San Diego Police Department reported area crime is down, at the Nov. 19 Pacific Beach Town Council (PBTC) meeting. Tourism and property taxes are down roughly $85 million, said Ronald Lacey from Mayor Jerry Sanders’ office. The city’s pension fund has lost $1 billion, which means more money will have to come out of the general fund to cover the staggering loss, Lacey said. To compensate for the shortage, City Council is discussing temporary closures of park and recreation facilities and libraries, including the Ocean Beach and Clairemont branches. Councilman Kevin Faulconer is committed to keeping the libraries open, Thyme Curtis, his council representative, said. San Diego County is facing similar problems. Property and sales taxes are down $78 million from this period last year, said John Wile, chief of staff for County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price. “We don’t have problems now, but there probably will be with our next budget in June,” he said. The shortfall could result in cuts to Health and Human Services, county parks, domestic violence programs and library closures, Wile said. In addition to park and recreation cuts, the mayor’s office is contemplating reducing police and fire departments by 15 percent. The civilian layoffs would pull police officers into administrative roles, Lacey said. Rotating fire engine closures are also likely. There will still be coverage, Lacey said, but response times could be affected. “A service reduction is a public safety reduction,” a local firefighter said. Attendees echoed his concerns that layoffs could strain San Diego’s police and fire departments, which are already significantly smaller than the forces of comparable cities. San Diego currently has 1.2 to 1.4 police officers for every 1,000 residents. Cities with similar populations have roughly 2 officers per 1,000 residents, Zimmerman said. In response to a question on public-safety salaries, Lacey said that San Diego’s are “not near the top” and may contribute to turnover. The city is currently retaining more officers than in the past, he added. Despite the challenges public safety personnel face, violent crime in the area is down 12.4 percent and property crime has dropped 11.9 percent, Zimmerman said. Residential burglaries are down 13 percent and commercial burglaries have decreased by 10 percent. Zimmerman said that the beach alcohol ban may have contributed to the decline in overall crime. Many residents believe that a growth in Neighborhood Watch programs may also explain the reduction. PBTC director Marcie Beckett and town council member Marcella Teran advised attendees interested in forming their own group to call the PBTC office, (858) 483-6666, or Officer Alan Alvarez, (858) 552-1631. They further advised residents bothered by noisy neighbors to call (619) 531-2000 to report a loud party in progress or (858) 552-1717 to speak with a CAPP (Community Assisted Party Program) coordinator for a long-term solution. Another town council member encouraged attendees to first try talking to their neighbors in a civil and respectful tone, saying the gesture could go a long way in improving neighborhood relationships. Though house parties have slightly increased, aggravated assault is down 14.6 percent and robbery has also dropped significantly, Zimmerman said. The number of rapes reported, however, has increased. “The vast majority are alcohol-related, not stranger-type rapes,” she said. Approximately 500 local bar staff members have gone through a training program designed to help them identify problem situations and ensure the safety of patrons, Zimmerman said. Police have worked with Discover Pacific Beach, community organizations, the local bar association, the military, fraternities and sororities and groups at local universities to heighten awareness of the crime and how it can be prevented, she added. Heightened awareness equals increased reporting, Zimmerman said. She questioned whether rapes or reporting were up, noting that sexual assault is the most underreported crime. The number of car burglaries reported has also increased, Zimmerman said. She advised shoppers to take their purchases home or carry them rather than storing them in the trunks of their cars. Zimmerman also cautioned Internet shoppers: “If a deal’s too good to be true, it’s too good to be true.” One alternative to the Internet is shopping local retailers. “We want to highlight the importance this year of shopping local,” Benjamin Nicholls, executive director of Discover Pacific Beach, said. “It’s been a really tough season for our retailers.” “Times are tough for our mom-and-pop stores,” said PBTC president Ruby Houck. As part of a shop local campaign, for every $20 a shopper spends in Pacific Beach stores, he or she will receive discounts at participating stores as well as a raffle ticket. The prize is rumored to be a trip to New York, Nicholls said. To help shoppers get in the holiday spirit, decorations will go up on Garnet Avenue after Thanksgiving, Nicholls said. With the help of donations from Faulconer and Slater-Price, the holiday parade will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. A concert sponsored by the Pacific Beach Community Foundation will follow at Kate Sessions Park. For applications and information on the parade, visit www.pbholidayparade.com. To get into the holiday spirit, CVS Pharmacy, 1652 Garnet Ave., is sponsoring Adopt a Senior on selected days. Participants can provide necessary items to local senior citizens. For information call (858) 273-1940. Mission Bay High School’s (MBHS) Associated Student Body is also sponsoring a food drive. MBHS senior class is also holding a fundraiser fashion show and tea at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Mission Beach Women’s Club. Tickets are $25 per person or $30 at the door. For information, contact Madison Victor at [email protected] or call Lori Libs (858) 395-8501. Community members who are interested in serving as panelists on the beach area community court are urged to visit www.BeachCommunityCourt.com. Panelists share their perspectives and stories with individuals who receive misdemeanor citations for public urination and other offenses which affect the quality of life for area residents. The court meets monthly during the winter and weekly in the summer months. The PBTC will hold its next general membership meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the Earl & Birdie Taylor Library, 4275 Cass St.