Dear Editor:
I find it disheartening that of all the important financial concerns expressed at the last City Council meeting, the only thing that sickened the councilman whose quote was highlighted in the article was my attempt to put the city on a sound business footing.
Well, there are many things about the Russo administration — the admninistration that the supposedly independent 5th Ward councilman invariably supports that sicken me.
I am sickened by elected officials helping themselves to almost $500,000 in taxpayer funded longevity bonuses for time served in other jurisdictions.
I am sickened by the perennially late delivery of our municipal budget, which forces estimated and inaccurate tax bills.
I am sickened by the demolition of the historic Girl Scout House.
I am sickened when certain employees get 30 hours of overtime week after week, for four years straight. I am sickened to think that nobody has figured out that it would be more cost effective to pay two workers at straight time for 70 hours worth of work than to shell out time and a half for the equivalent of another full time employee’s time.
I am sickened by politicians who help themselves to free computers, software and beepers from City Hall for home use.
I am sickened by the hundreds of dollars spent on special meals ordered for select City Council people before every meeting.
I am sickened that the finance committee refuses to grant a decent raise for our children’s crossing guards. (They were eager to approve 30 percent raises for political favorites).
I am sickened by the politicos who get jobs from city vendors, jobs that force them to abstain on critical decisions facing our city.
Finally, I am sickened by politicians who say they are champions of open space and recreation, then allow a children’s playground to be closed so that luxury condos can be built. They, then attempt to destroy a development that provides subsidized space for our artists. They do this so they can say they are pro-recreation.
What councilperson wouldn’t be sick of me after I expose them in a letter like this?
Councilman at Large Tony Soares