I cannot understand why a Ventura resident wouldn’t support Measure P6.

More than four years ago, I moved to California and happily made Ventura my home. I bought a home, am about to get married and would like to start a family in the not-so-distant future. In the relatively short amount of time that I have lived in Ventura, I have already seen the population grow and the crime reports become more frequent. I am very fortunate in that I have never had to call the Ventura Fire or Police Department for help, and I would like to think that I will never have to. However, the odds are that I will need their assistance at some point.

If that time comes and I call 911, as a tax-paying Ventura city resident, I expect a quick response from our city’s highly trained and dedicated police officers and firefighters. They are a select group of men and women trained to do a job they deserve to be commended for — to protect the lives and property of the residents of Ventura. My fear, if Measure P6 is not approved, is that if an emergency arose and I called 911, that help may not arrive as quickly as it could have simply because the police and fire Departments are short-staffed.

If Measure P6 is approved, there will be a one-quarter of a percent sales tax increase. This will equate to approximately 5 cents out of a $20 purchase. I definitely think that is a small price to pay for safety. Every penny generated will stay in Ventura to meet our safety needs. Ventura residents must support Measure P6!

— Dana Barker, Ventura