by truthsayer in Announcements, City Finances, Politics
Posted on June 13, 2010 at 9:17 pm
Last Modified on June 13, 2010 at 9:23 pm
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The Mayor of Somerville has yet again stolen another idea from Cambridge, I think, this time. The idea of closing of streets for road races has been going on there for over 35 yrs. or more. This let me make everyone feel good approach works well when one is too busy being the fitness guru, and traveling all over the country making speeches on how important it is to stay active.
The mayor should be spending time and energy to help out our city and help get us out of this financial crush. I do not want people to get the wrong idea: staying in shape is very important for everyone- not just for the young, but just as important for all ages.
I watched a horrible display of a child at the last board of alderman’s meeting. The mayor was looking to bond some $360,000; but, when told by the board that they could not make out the minutes of the meeting, he went into a tantrum. First he said 1. I do not do the minutes of meetings, 2. My staff works long hard hrs. and that they would have helped them…and, last but not least may I quote “it is not my job”. Well, Mr. Mayor, it is your job. If you had hired people that were competent, you would not have been crying to the board, and maybe we would not be in this bad financial state.
I also noticed that you are looking to break a union- the hard working school custodians; but, the municipal custodian’s work is ongoing. That could be because one of them has been hanging on to Stan Koty’s coat tails for decades. I also was going over some of the city budget. It is full of redundant job positions, or, as the Mayor likes to say, “we do more with less.” The less are the people that have dedicated their lives to this city- but are not in the inner circle.
I think it’s a shame that this city has regressed under this mayor. Please take your electronic toys and put the funding into real services. Alot can be done with less. You can bring your toys back when times get better.
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I second this posting. Actually, the budget cuts should be equal and not from one or two departments. I can honestly say I have never voted for this mayor and am proud of it.
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What an interesting emerging coalition. Unfortunately it’s “against” rather than FOR any one or any position. Now, if only somebody could consolidate an argument to protect the union on the bottom, slice from Stan’s friends and relatives on the top, and shuffle the friends-of-friends who often do a good job in the middle, we might have both a budget and a candidate.
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I am thinking of running for alderman at large.
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Seriously? You’d have a better shot sticking with a Ward race, Janine.
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Yes, Tricky. What do you think my chances are in Ward 3 if I run in my ward. I feel I would be a new, fresh set of eyes, I am not a native Somervillian and I have ZERO family members working for the city.
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Janine, you got my vote! However, unless and until you can break the hold of the farleft, USA-hating, progressives and the entrenched moved-out-of-the-city-long-ago hacks still working for the city then … well… it ain’t looking good for you.
What first needs to be done is an analysis by some young, investigative reporter of the city’s finances. Once the whale of a lie is blown out of the water (that we don’t bring in enough $$$) then I would think the mayor’s job would be open for you.
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I agree with all of the above. The Mayor for years has been padding the payroll with friends and supporters coming and going into well paying city jobs. He buys all the “toys” for Stan by bonding/ charging our financial future, never saying no to a DPW request. Look at the former aldermen holding positions in the city. Look at the relatives of the aldermen in good paying city jobs. We are heavy with patronage and low on accountability and ethics.
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I will also take a pay cut as mayor. I am not a fan of patronage and will also only serve a two term limit. I think most of these aldermen feel they are entitled to their seat (as does the mayor).
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I think you’re all just – at least a little – wrong. There is a heavy layer of patronage, for sure, but some of those players work well and know the city well. I think, ironically, the Mayor hired them for that knowledge, but rarely recognizes how it can serve real public purpose – knowledge of how the city government CAN work is critical, and his is better than Dot Gay’s but far less than most other predecessors.
So also, most aldermen don’t really think themselves entitled, but have, in fact, become entitled since nobody thinks their job is worth fighting for or about. There is such a vacuum of local political interest that, perhaps, there may be some contests pretty soon. The fight over the janitors could, perhaps, provoke just such an effect. And the underlying problems with the budget – that led the Mayor to what must rank as one of the most inept political decisions since McCrystal and Obama or Truman and MacArthur – could be just such a pry-point.
It illustrates the trap he’s put himself in: he actually consulted and then used the advice from Tufts, in replicating their privatization of their janitorial staff. Remarkable. In the first place, it was a misjudgment – there – of the first order – many janitors used their job as a means of mobility, paying for their kids’ college through a very worthwhile fringe benefit and accepting awful salaries. Repeating such a misjudgment in a city full of past patronage, where the average worker over 40 was appointed by or because of the influence of the average politician over 60, just shows how Joe’s moved as far out of touch as Dot!
Not that the workers are any less right: starting budget shaving at the bottom is … simply … stupid. Two or three factotums at ResiStat – who should be funded by his buds at the Kennedy School anyway – would more than clear any savings he’ll recover from janitorial level salaries. And early retirement could save more than the health care surcharge.
Finally, don’t presume that the Mayor feels “entitled” to his seat – he’ll organize to protect it. He is ambitious, which is to everyone’s advantage. He’s just “ill-advised” in some key and critical decisions. If there were any serious city-wide politician, he might have made very different decisions about budgets and personnel. He’s neither as stupid as you might think, nor as confident as he appears. Just trapped in a political system with few openings above, and lots of yeasty mess below.
A few more intelligent and independent Aldermen, with their own missions and ambitions, would certainly improve the city’s politics. Why is Roche so safe? He is a key player with N-Star, who is screwing around with the Green Line at Union Square, and the reason for so many double electric poles and messy wires in so many Somerville neighborhoods. Why is Tom Taylor safe? He never really coped with the scandal when last challenged, and has yet to demonstrate anything like independence or local initiative regarding the redevelopment of Union Square or the Green Line. What about Trane or Pero, both of whom are good guys but way behind regarding the development issues facing the city. We are not Gulliver living in Lilliput! There are some tough decisions ahead, that demand some tough political leadership beyond the Mayor himself.
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And, by the way Janine, it’s not salary that makes the Mayor’s job so good – there are many, many more fringes, enough so that the salary is the least of the issues. Nor do term limits produce great leadership: it sometimes takes a while to figure out who is actually the one who’s stealing and who is doing a good job. The excesses of Medford or Boston – or, for that matter, Cambridge – are evidence of mismanagement and coziness, not just long termers.
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Joe:
I am looking at the budgets from last year and this year. They are 250+ pages long. I see many salary increases for departments as well as new programs. Is this really the time to start a new program when we have many duplicate programs that do the same thing?
I beg to differ with the entitlement issue for elected officials. Yes, you are right that citizens become complacent and there are no challengers to the mayor or aldermen (viable challengers). That is sad. I am pointing out the salary increases and new programs to my alderman. Why is he unable to see these things?
I agree that it does take time to figure out an office if ever elected. What I am saying is that elected officials should not feel the seat is a life time appointment. I think Joe will pull a fast one on the janitors as well as the library and rec dept. I think he knows who his advisers are and he is an intelligent fellow who knows what is going on. I think he has been around long enough to see how this city operates.
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Janine,
I think actually you’re wrong about Joe’s insights. He’s now affiliating with the Rappaport Institute at KSG, one of the high prestige, low outcome, and most reactionary corners of Harvard, where the Executive Director tried to lecture Fred Salvucci that there was no need for a Green Line because of reduced auto emissions. He’s spent the last four years cozying up to the folk at Tisch College at Tufts, where their favorite program has kids at the Mystic Housing Project making maple syrup while their neighbors kill each other. Those are not affiliations of an insightful leader.
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Joe:
Some things yes and others no.
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Here’s a fun fact for all of you to think about when pondering “who can beat Joe” next year.
How many of the current members of the Board of Alderman DO NOT have relatives(or housemates)on the city payroll?
Three. Take some guesses who they are.
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My only guess would be Rebekah.
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