Muscatine

Osama Shihadeh said Monday ''he would continue his commitment to keeping property taxes low and service levels high if elected to a second term on the Muscatine City Council.''

I was wondering if ''keeping service levels high'' while purposely under-staffing our police department, and underpaying our police officers so they leave for other cities after our tax dollars have paid for their training (dogs as well) is a contradiction? How can he say one thing, then do another? Wait, that's what politicians do isn't it? Double speak at its finest.

Phil Fitzgerald is cut from the same mold. Millions for the river and streets, and nothing for public safety. We know, it's ''different money'' and we've heard this adnausem, and continue to read about the increased numbers of burlagries, (hoes and business)and vandalism to the monuments they build and then fail to protect.

They spend tax dollars, then instead of assuring they can protect their/our investment, they let the vandals have their way then they move on to something else.

The Mayor is fond of saying ''good things are happening in Muscatine.'' Well that may be so, but ''bad things are also happening in Muscatine'' and the currrent city council is asleep at the wheel. If they want to take ownership of the good things, thay must also take ownership of the bad.

So, Mr. Shihadeh, what makes you think you deserve another 4 years? If you promise to continue to do what you've been doing, our city's crime rates will continue to rise, and I'm pretty sure that investors, potential home builders and new business really won't look at that as a ''good thing.''

DO SOMETHING, just don't sit there!

the sad thing

The sad thing is you don't see any one beating down the doors to run against the people already in office. Look at the school board canidates. You have a choice of three and in my opinion two of them are not physically capable of doing the job. It is easy to find fault, but not easy to step up and try to do the job.

Your right

None of you are willing to step up to the plate and do your civic duty - Run for alderman, you are more comfortable to sit back and write notes against our alderman. Maybe, just maybe its time you did something for a change.

You could

not be more incorrect about Mr. Shuhadeh doing nothing. If you bothered to watch or go to City Council meetings you would know he's the only one who says no to waste in the budget. Example is when the council voted to spend 50,000 dollars for plants a foot of new 5th street bridge, he was able to reduce that cost to 12,000 dollars. Instead of bitching with out knowledge run for City Council and don't just sit there as you accused Mr. Shihadeh of doing!