What the schools taught us
Strategies, threats, innuendos?
The city had the advantage of over a decade of campaign strategies from the school district. For years we have been bullied into ?“it?’s for the kids!?” (sniff). Let?’s recall, the schools threatened to cut band if we didn?’t pass a levy. We didn?’t pass it and the band still exists. They said if we didn?’t pass a levy they would cut (gasp) girls basketball. We didn?’t and they didn?’t. They said if we didn?’t they would cut bussing. We didn?’t and they didn?’t. They instituted pay to play. They said if we passed a levy they would stop them. We did and they didn?’t.
So the city had all these lessons and more from the schools to base a campaign on. Instead of making threats they wouldn?’t deliver on, they just said they would maintain services. They didn?’t say they would cut cops but said they wouldn?’t be adding any and aren?’t I read.
So Mr. or Mrs. Beanie let me ask you this. What would you now do? Put yourself in a politician?’s shoes or a staffer?’s shoes. You were rejected at the polls and you cannot continue to provide the same level of service you did last year. What do you cut? What will you tolerate? Less snowplowing this winter? Less summer activities?
Be realistic. What do you expect from a city? What perks do you want? What can you do without?
One thing you hit on and I agree with you and am extremely disappointed over is the attitude of some of the councilmen about cutting staff. When did that become their job? I thought that was one of the reasons we have a city manager? You know, sort of the chief operating officer. He prepares a budget that allows staffing numbers he requires to operate the city, presents it to council and they vote. If they accept the budget, the COO has to live within those means and adjust staff as necessary. If they reject the budget, he is tasked to make cuts he feels he can live with.
If council begins to name names or positions to be cut, they have overstepped their bounds and I challenge any of them to show me in the charter or other rules of engagement, their right to cut staff.
Beanie, back at you. I am curious who you are because I think that council and staff would welcome someone with your insight to come in and offer ideas and suggestions. You would be the first because it is my understanding that never once in the 9 months preceding the election did a single resident come to any meeting and speak for or against the tax issue. They were cowards and now is not the time to open your mouths. Beanie, your words bear a remarkable resemblance to several people I know who have posted in this forum under their real name. You even seem to be a blend of a former councilman and a new one who I heard have forged some misbegotten alliance in how the council supporters of the tax issue must now be punished for not doing things their way. You also sound like a councilman up for reelection next year who I hope doesn?’t get reelected. We need a break from his antics.
By Cecil
Strategies, threats, innuendos?
The city had the advantage of over a decade of campaign strategies from the school district. For years we have been bullied into ?“it?’s for the kids!?” (sniff). Let?’s recall, the schools threatened to cut band if we didn?’t pass a levy. We didn?’t pass it and the band still exists. They said if we didn?’t pass a levy they would cut (gasp) girls basketball. We didn?’t and they didn?’t. They said if we didn?’t they would cut bussing. We didn?’t and they didn?’t. They instituted pay to play. They said if we passed a levy they would stop them. We did and they didn?’t.
So the city had all these lessons and more from the schools to base a campaign on. Instead of making threats they wouldn?’t deliver on, they just said they would maintain services. They didn?’t say they would cut cops but said they wouldn?’t be adding any and aren?’t I read.
So Mr. or Mrs. Beanie let me ask you this. What would you now do? Put yourself in a politician?’s shoes or a staffer?’s shoes. You were rejected at the polls and you cannot continue to provide the same level of service you did last year. What do you cut? What will you tolerate? Less snowplowing this winter? Less summer activities?
Be realistic. What do you expect from a city? What perks do you want? What can you do without?
One thing you hit on and I agree with you and am extremely disappointed over is the attitude of some of the councilmen about cutting staff. When did that become their job? I thought that was one of the reasons we have a city manager? You know, sort of the chief operating officer. He prepares a budget that allows staffing numbers he requires to operate the city, presents it to council and they vote. If they accept the budget, the COO has to live within those means and adjust staff as necessary. If they reject the budget, he is tasked to make cuts he feels he can live with.
If council begins to name names or positions to be cut, they have overstepped their bounds and I challenge any of them to show me in the charter or other rules of engagement, their right to cut staff.
Beanie, back at you. I am curious who you are because I think that council and staff would welcome someone with your insight to come in and offer ideas and suggestions. You would be the first because it is my understanding that never once in the 9 months preceding the election did a single resident come to any meeting and speak for or against the tax issue. They were cowards and now is not the time to open your mouths. Beanie, your words bear a remarkable resemblance to several people I know who have posted in this forum under their real name. You even seem to be a blend of a former councilman and a new one who I heard have forged some misbegotten alliance in how the council supporters of the tax issue must now be punished for not doing things their way. You also sound like a councilman up for reelection next year who I hope doesn?’t get reelected. We need a break from his antics.
By Cecil
