OK, It appears we have heard from Seward and City Manager and it was what we were told it would be, six cents and perhaps a $120 a year MORE for garbage pickup. The city currently pays for it now using dollars already collected from us. So we now know the City Manager’s budget desires. But she works at the pleasure of the Council and there are more people available to weigh in on the subject than just the City Manager. It is the Council that must turn the little lights on the wall green and edge many citizens closer to bankruptcy. We have heard little from Council members but it is now their turn to wax eloquent and point to other measures the city can take during these testing years of economic disaster. For instance those dollars planned for the first year costs of the new city hall. Who knows that a year from now costs of construction will be higher? We have heard nothing about lowering high-end salaries, or eliminating assistant’s assistants even though the computer age is forcing it to happen elsewhere. It was simple when an astute Council sensing we were no where near bottom firmly suggested the City Manager disappear until the budget matched the expected income with no increase in the tax rate.
9 comments:
The Pilot reports that information on the new budget was gleaned from a few "anonymous" City Council members. Which of our elected representatives are too cowardly to attach their name to this abomination? I sure don't remember "higher taxes and a garbage fee" in anyone's campaign speech.
We are wondering if there is at least one Council member with enough ambition and courage to take on the City manager. We know the three black men will go with the black C.M.and the black school soop. They usually make a little noise to prove they are thinkers, then back off. That leaves four whites that could carry the day if they would just once do what is right for the folks that elected them.
C'mon, People! We're talking about a Council that claims they've cut to the bone, but still add on pretty hefty food bills to the taxpayers "expenses" EVERY time they meet during a mealtime (and they're not the only ones!).
It was also THEIR decision to give the city manager her outrageous car allowance and benefit package. I mean seriously! We're talking about a City that during a "hiring freeze" CREATED several new job positions and elevated several employee's pay based on a job title. A Health Coordinator position was created to teach the city staff to live healthy...SERIOUSLY????!!! A Time Keeper position was/is being advertised for Public Works...they are so busy they need someone to track their time????!!!! And that's just a couple of the silly positions recently created, it doesn't include the ridiculous managers to oversee managers that already existed.
We, as a city, spent money on recreational facilities, events and what in my household would be considered do with-outs, when money gets tight. There is no excuse for this. I don't want to hear the crap of keeping kids off the streets. Go read a book, study, do some chores, hey here's a novel concept...take on some responsibility!! Maybe help a neighbor with yard work or something. As a taxpayer I don't need the City to "entertain" me or my kids. Especially during such down economic times.
With all that said, and given that Council have been involved in at least most of these decisions, do you really think they're going to disagree with the City Manager's proposed budget?
To the taxpayers: why are we relying only on the city to make our city nice?? Why aren't we out taking responsibility for our properties? Why aren't we avoiding throwing trash out the window or dumping it wherever? That's the primary difference between northern and southern Suffolk...appearance! If folks in central and southern Suffolk took a little pride and a little initiative our part of the city could be just as attractive and attract maybe a business or two. If we don't want to have our tax dollars spent frivolously, then maybe it's time for us to man up and stop acting frivolous??!!
Get real people, lies lies lies.
Nothing new, just more money and lies lies lies.
We are sliding down the slipery slope and there is no way to stop since there is no way you will take the effort to vote out all the people making these bad decissions.
City Council members called the $532.89 million budget proposal a "responsible and forward-moving plan" ... seriously? Over half of a BILLION dollars for our little city?! We have city officials by the handfuls making six figure incomes and enjoying exclusive luxury car rentals paid for by our tax dollars. Meanwhile, we citizens are tightening our belts and cutting back, doing without, so they can get fat and happy on our dime. The corruption and greed of our leaders is out of control.
I said it before and I'll say it again this is a charade. City Manager Selena Cuffee-Glenn is doing exactly what she is being told to do. She is the shill allowing council members to test the waters for a milrate increase while giving them cover. Thankfully we have the Duman and his campaign manager on our side, right?! Martin would have at least put up a fight and held off Johnson's policy of tax and spend. She is laughing all the way to the next Mayoral election and will be a serious contender if she decides to throw her hat into the ring.
There will always be another election and Council members will always fail the people that voted for them. It is as though they have never heard their complaints or how hard they have been hit. The words uttered behind closed doors should be where all can hear lest we think they are too weak to serve. But that's all right,the average citizen has no interest in politics. sere ts0the0ir
Anon April 6, 2011 7:16 AM,
Let's cut the black/white cr_p and deal with the issues. With a little more understanding, are you convinced that the minority members will still vote in lockstep? I know Brown isn't the brightest bulb in the room but Curtis is much smarter than he sounds--he's just very old. And you only need to convince Mr. Bennett's wife and he'll vote any way she tells him to!
Just like the other 4, these guys just want to keep political power. And they know their constituents and just how far they will let them pretend to ignore City problems before insisting on doing something about them. Race has nothing to do with it. Education does.
The sad commentary in all this is that the average Suffolkian will not do anything until after they receive their tax bill. They'll scratch their head and dig a little deeper into their savings. If they can't afford to live here they vote with their feet instead of using their head. As the jingle goes; We are Suffolk dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.
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