The Observation Deck

It will never happen.

Our politicians are too timid.

The troublemakers will have to congregate in another neighborhood. Maybe a few blocks away.

..

Bill

It will never happen.

Our politicians are too timid

Just for the sake of discussion......Let's assume Lakewood had 1.6 million sitting around.

You, more than most, preach a hard line doctrine of governmental fiscal responsibility. Let's renegotiate leases, void contracts, question administrative expenses. Above all, let's save taxpayer money, let's lower the tax burden.

So, IF we had the extra money, what would Bill Call be saying when Demro proposed that we start buying real estate? Since we don't have the money, where would you suggest that our timid politicians obtain it?

Are our politicians too timid, or is the electorate unwilling to write the check to accomplish such a program? Or are our politicians just smart enough to recognize the anti tax, anti spend, mood of the electorate.

Jeff

Bill Call wrote:It will never happen.

Our politicians are too timid.

Euclid politicians are afraid of teenagers.

Victoria Whitmore will become the next mayor of Euclid.

Jeff Endress wrote:Bill

It will never happen.

Our politicians are too timid

Are our politicians too timid, or is the electorate unwilling to write the check to accomplish such a program? Or are our politicians just smart enough to recognize the anti tax, anti spend, mood of the electorate.
Jeff

Fair question.

I've heard through the grapevine that the City has agreed to substantial raises for the Fire Department with no efforts to control overtime and no efforts to evaluate scheduling so maybe there is money at City Hall after all. But to address your question....

I would support an increase in the City income tax to 2.25% with no increase in the current credit given to City residents. That would cost the average resident $262 dollars per year, it would raise 7.5 million a year. What would I do with the money?

1. Assist Rockport. Buy land and buildings around the site to increase the size by a factor of 10, North all the way to the tracks

2. Fill in the blanks I won't bore you with the rest.

Why won't I support that tax increase? Because it would simply fund business as usual. If we are going to have business as usual we can fund it within the current tax rates.

Am I being unfair to our politicians when I call them timid? Yes, in a sense.

The Mayor and council are generally doing a good job within the constraints of the current budget and the realities of arbitration. As of now I would support the Mayor in his re-election effort. We are blessed with a good group on council. While I expect miracles, I don't expect miracles.

When Mayor George sees extra tax money I am sure he envisions STREET IMPROVEMENT! INFRASTRUCTURE! NEW HOUSING! A DYNAMIC GROWING COMMUNITY!

When the City unions and the arbitrator see extra tax money they see RAISES! BIGGER RAISES! MORE VACATION TIME! MORE SICK TIME! BETTER HEALTH BENEFITS! EARRRRLY RETIREMENT! YESSS!!! ALL THAT MONEY AND ITS ALL OURS!

Am I being unfair to City employees. No. They have voted with their feet. Some may say "even though I live in Avon I love Lakewood". I think they love it like a child loves his piggy bank. They won't hesitate to bust it up with a hammer to get at the money.

What a nice idea, the city bought the properties instead of trying to get them declared blighted and taking them by eminent domain.

I'm sure they can sell them and eventually recoup the cost. Maybe this will end up being a win win for the city. I hope so.