So much is said in the course of a public meeting that it’s difficult to catch it all, or at least have any of it make sense.
And I thing when our elected officials say things, they don’t think about what they are saying before it all comes falling out of their pie hole.
Interesting enough, but not hard to believe, some of what they say is rhetorical. No way?!
One councilor said that they had been contacted by a number of their constituents, as well as reaching out to others for their input, and then summarized that same input – to make a point. Sometimes they also add, “I got thirteen calls”. Ok. I was in their position for 20 years, and I sometimes said the same thing (even if I never got that many – call it a lie? I was trying to make a point!). And I am certainly not suggesting they, themselves are making it all up to make a point. I can only believe they did receive input and they are sharing it with their fellow councilors.
And that’s not the point of this rant. It is what one councilor said in response to the comments that were shared. And this is a condescending remark: “I’m sure the people you associate with would make those kind of comments”. Those words exactly. And they stuck with me since they were made several months ago.
Think about it – “the people you associate with”.
Well, mama, this one comment could just now be coming back to haunt you. My compliments!
Now, the people “YOU ASSOCIATE WITH” – and we all know who some of them are – are secretly working in the background to drive city issues in a certain direction – and are losers from the past, who never got ANYTHING done while they were in your position on the CC, and they can’t let go and want you to do their dirty work for them. I shouldn’t even suggest that they wield any kind of “power” so to speak, but they’re are surely squirming around trying to make things difficult for those who want to get something positive done in the city.
One in particular went all in by backing the local medical clinic program to have the city ban smoking in public places. ALL IN! All the way up to the mountain top! And when it came time for the vote, left the clinic people on the mountain top by themselves, and it failed.
The same goof was “all in” to establish a storm water utility (the Storm Water Utility will be the subject of an upcoming future blog), allowing for each property to pay their fair share in the cost to manage storm water. Of course, tax exempt properties don’t pay property taxes. BUT, they are many times the biggest contributor to water run-off, leaving the cost to the residential properties to pay the brunt of it on their tax bill. The concept of a storm water utility is to pay a fee (sure, a tax) according to the measurements of roofs and blacktop parking lots they own – regardless of property tax status. AND TAKE THE RERSPONSIBLITY AND THE COST OF MANAGING STORM WATER OFF THE PROPERTY TAXES. We’re talking state and federal mandates requiring holding and retention ponds; building storm sewers; and cleaning storm sewers (when people blow their lawn grass and leaves into the street).
Long story short, Mr. Important abstained from the crucial vote to establish the storm water utility because of fear of retribution (being a business owner – who by the way closed shop within a year or so of this important decision he missed out on) and worried he’d lose business. OK. Maybe. But maybe that explains why some successful business owners do not participate in local government and don’t put themselves in that position. Missed the party – AGAIN!! So be careful of the company you keep if you make remarks like I just addressed here. And it might be wise to think for yourself and not be persuaded by those who wish they could be on the CC – but can’t for whatever reasons.