Posted by
Katy Grimes on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 2:44:58 AM
Tonight the Sacramento City Council demonstrated that they are completely unfamiliar with the American tradition of the Democratic process. They also demonstrated that they are lockstep with the local unions - or not man enough to deal with them. It was also apparent that they had pre-arranged the vote ahead of the meeting.
Tonight's meeting was an enormous waste of everyone's time - especially the folks who took the time out of their usual schedules and don't get paid to sit at City Council meetings listening to the self-congratulating and drivel coming from city employees to one-another, on what a great job they've all done with the budget.
The biggest waste of time was when mayor Johnson thanked everyone present who had spoken out about the budget issues, and told them that their suggestions could be used next budget year if not used this year. He tipped his hat, gave a wink-wink to the local unions present, and voted quickly to pass the budget.
The union-bloated budget cuts all of the little guys who work for the parks department who already don't make enough to live on, cuts necessary park maintenance including public park restrooms, cuts some programs for kids, closes swimming pools and the like.
Are you seeing a theme here?
The City wussies allowed local union bosses to determine who would be cut from the budget for the city, so as not to upset their higher-up members. No mention of the lower paid employees that will be sacrificed so that the older, highly paid, management city employees can keep their pay raises . No mention of the regional public parks that are already being ignored by maintenance workers (who are out looking for jobs after receiving lay-off notices), and no mention of the bathrooms that will be closed in said parks, that service park visitors, picnic groups, family reunions, grad parties, car clubs, volleyball tournaments, baseball, soccer, football teams, runners, walkers, stroller-pushing moms, fishermen, bird watchers, golfers, bicyclists, and passers by making a quick pit stop.
The Sacramento City council demonstrated that they are so removed from the reality of city life and live in an insulated bubble of their own choosing, when they conducted little scripted discussions tonight with each other and members of City staff.
Council member Rob Fong in his carefully scripted exchange with Parks and Rec department Director Jim Combs, fooled no one with the bad acting. Between Fong's soft-ball questions and Combs' ambiguous, disingenuous answers, it felt like an episode of CSPAN. Lauren Hammond's "heartfelt" speech lacked... heart. Steve Cohn, in his meandering soliloquy to the residents, left the folks looking around awkwardly, asking each other, "what is he talking about?" And Sandy Sheedy said nothing of substance, as usual.
However, when Mayor Johnson wrapped up the budget discussion with his insincere thanks and half-hearted comment about the usefulness of the proposals in next year's budget (maybe), members in the audience knew wed been had. Then entire evening was an exercise in futility. THe City Council could have been replaced tonight with large puppets, maneuvered by Local 39 and the Fire Fighters Union.
Sacramento is operating undemocratically. The elected officials are not listening to the voting citizens and instead, putting all of their eggs in the unions basket. This is non representative of the democratic process in a Representative Republic.
If I was a City Council member right now, I'd be looking for another job. The wrath coming from the residents is not going to be pretty... so I have heard.
more to come...