Mayor Bill Finch is under fire for supporting pay increases for dozens of city employees, including direct hires, in the infancy of his second term. John Gomes, who withdrew his candidacy for mayor during the summer to support Mary-Jane Foster, writes in a statement to OIB “the first action of this administration was to take the hard-earned tax dollars from the City budget and use it to line their own pockets and those of their supporters/friends.” Gomes’ statement:
With the debt crisis in Europe threatening the world economy and the weakened US economy seeking a path to recovery, protestors across the nation have taken to the streets demanding income equality. Like others across this country, residents here in Bridgeport continue to lose their jobs and homes, while the fortunate ones with jobs are taking pay cuts or accepting part-time positions to make ends meet.
Yet, despite this reality, the City of Bridgeport remains unconcerned with even the appearance of fiscal responsibility. According to a recent CT Post article, “Finch seeks pay hikes,” Mayor Finch has proposed an ordinance change which would give him “more flexibility in hiring” and “would also bump the starting salary for appointed positions.” Since being sworn into its second term earlier this month, this administration has added $350,000 in salaries filling new and previously vacant positions. This figure does not include pay raises to top administration officials, which, in at least one instance, was as much as $12,000.
So while the people they are sworn to represent worry about putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their heads, the first action of this administration was to take the hard-earned tax dollars from the City budget and use it to line their own pockets and those of their supporters/friends.
As we now know, the wrong person dropped out of the race.
If Gomes had the financial backing he would have done much better in the primary, maybe not enough to win and end this corruption, but a much better showing.
Maybe when the feds wake up and the special election takes place, Gomes will have the money.
*** Money, the root of all evil but apparently the answer to “ZOMBIELAND’S” political problems? *** MEAN GREEN ***
*** REPENT SINNERS, TIME’S TICKING ACCORDING TO THE MAYAN CALENDER! *** 2012 ***
I believe the Mayor has “explained” his recent hires and compensation as well as the Ordinance change before the Council, as necessary and affordable per the budget. But he apparently has shown no overall management plan that explains the new positions or the new hires or advancements with any indication of research on comparable positions elsewhere. (In the meantime taxpayers who are trying to sell their homes and move out of the City are told the “comparable” values are lower than they thought and thus they can expect less in a sale, especially if one has to sell quickly.)
And where is the research that shows the need for these positions and how they will be productive in getting necessary economic development out of a stall position or directly effect positive revenues or cost-reducing efficiencies??? Not a word of justification. So will the Council persons have the courage to stall any action until the proof or justification is presented, heard by the public, and some sense is understood by part of the audience? Or will they just vote because another Council member said it was OK to do so, or the administration said it was OK, or it is just hard to say NO when you have a job, or know someone who does, or you are a DTC buddy. My goodness all this confusion, hurts your head, and it’s just easier to vote with everyone else. Is that it??? Where is the oversight function? Who is acting like an adult in this City government and understanding a question is asked to elicit information upon which to make a sound decision or judgement on long term affairs??? Who is not asking questions because they don’t know how to do so, or are afraid? It is good to hear John Gomes, once again, a clear voice, asking good questions. How soon will Mayor Finch wake up to the fact all the power in the world is temporary, and when you begin your descent or decline on life’s ladder, it is much better to have public respect rather than disdain for your character and person?
And will the City Council vote for $4.5 Million worth of unfilled CITY job slots that are not filled during the budget year, but which dollars get spent anyway??? That is one source of political slush that allows the Mayor to say his personnel planning is funded, when it clearly is not.
Will you be interested in watching the money story unfold this year? January-February the Blum Shapiro external audit? February-March the Capital Budget? March-April the Mayor releases the Sherwood budget and Budget and Appropriations begins its review process without regularly listening to you, the taxpaying public, indicate where there is room to cut, to reorganize, to become more efficient, to spend your tax dollars to better effect??? How will you use your intelligence, your time and ultimately your voice this year? Time will tell.
I bet the council will vote all of these changes in and the vote will be 19-1. This will be done because outside of Andre Baker none of the other council people have the brains or the courage to say NO. Past history of this group will prove me right, unfortunately.
When is this council meeting? Let’s go to it and show our opposition to this!
*** BLAST AWAY; HOWEVER IT’S A DONE DEAL, NO? ***