City Council does its job
Bravo to the City Council for exercising one of its most important functions: providing oversight on the city budget. For the first time in years, the council cut money from a mayor's spending proposal, trimming $1.1 million in frustration over Mayor Sheila Dixon's unwillingness to restore proposed cuts to recreation centers. Now we head for conflict over what happens next -- the council can't actually force Dixon to spend on the rec centers, and she has pledged instead to dedicate it to property tax reduction -- an essentially meaningless fraction of a cent on the city's sky-high rate.
That's power politics, not representative government. Listen to the mayor's reaction: "The council is exercising its legislative role," Dixon said. "Am I disappointed? Yes." Indeed, I imagine she is disappointed that her fellow elected officials aren't rolling over and rubber-stamping her every whim. Now she has to actually explain why it's more important for the city to spend $700,000 on a cable TV channel that produces flattering programming about her than on recreation centers to keep kids off the streets. Good luck with that, Madam Mayor.
Comments
Close down the ridiculous tv station and put the money towrds the kids.
Once again the arrogance of our elected officials shines through.
There just is no hope for this city with leadership like this at the helm.
Posted by: jay | June 12, 2009 10:48 AM
Right on!
Posted by: Marilynn | June 13, 2009 7:29 AM