the World, that it is hard to keep up with everything and where everything is going and how
or why. Much of it is a "shell game" but in high speed. Done not only to confuse, but
to keep the game going at such a speed that there is no time to talk, or figure things out.
Example:
They gut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, but we all pay the same. We just lost value,
quality, quantity and control over our future. That would be a tax raise. No matter how else
you look at things, that is a tax raise. Less for the same amount is cost going up. Do not be
confused with the actual amount paid.
Here locally, we can look at trash collection. While Ed FitzGerald told us it was needed not to raise taxes,
the actual truth was, the cost of living in Lakewood went up, and it went up a lot for
some. An example, a work-out-of-the-house designer who bills at let's say $60 an hour,
a modest fee for a designer, takes his trash to the curb, and back 52 times a year, at an
average time of let's say 15 minutes a week. His taxes just went up $780 a year. A pretty
steep raise when you stop to think about it.
Recently we have seen the city cut staff, services, and programs to the point the city and
the workers are now all openly complaining about the workload, and are saying that they
cannot do as much as they did before. A common problem around the country. If you get
less for the same money, you are paying more. The cost just went up, and it affects all of
our bottom lines.
So the news today of Director of Health and Human Services, Dottie Buckon stepping down
will be cloaked with all sorts of "great reverberations and talk." Dottie, a long-time resident
of Lakewood, over the years has also become the highest paid employee of the city. This
fact has put a target on Dottie's back, and the entire Health and Human Services
Department for the last two administrations, as the easiest thing to cut to save money.
There is no doubt that is true. The simplest, and easiest way to save money.
Leo and Dottie Buckon walking in the 2006 Ambulance Chase.
But then look at what they do, and who they serve, and the loss of someone as competent
as Dottie, and the slashing of the department which will soon follow. This will put a real shadow on
the city, and how we will handle (or don't handle) so many things, like Seniors, the many immigrants who
have landed in Lakewood because of other programs, and the health and safety of the rest
of us.
A perfect example is restaurants. We used to do our own inspections, but that has been
offloaded to the county, with the simple statement, "Why duplicate services?" a cry we often
hear from those desperate to regionalize. Well the very real truth was, with Lakewood's
growing food industry, it would be nice to have the same level of inspections we enjoyed
for decades keeping Lakewood safe, and the restaurants on their toes. Was it a luxury,
maybe, but one that you would think a city with 238 places that serve prepared
food could afford.
The talk is now that more and more of the programs out of Health and Human Services will
be cut or moved to the county, and I am sorry, I cannot be convinced that is a good thing.
Dottie talking with a mother at the Lakewood Community Festival. Dottie is the rare person who has the ability to reach across any gap to bring people together, and get them thinking correctly about life, family, health, and living in Lakewood.
Dottie, thanks for your service to the city I know you love.
Have fun riding your motorcycle and seeing America.
You are already missed.
Let's never forget that City Hall's purpose is to provide services: police, garbage collection, health and welfare, and everything that makes a city Safe, Clean and Fun. That's why a city government exists.
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