Below is my speech tonight regarding the City Budget ...
First, as someone who campaigned for Prop. C in 2007 … this citizen is looking for this Council to unequivocally be able to say to the good citizens of Kirkwood.
PROMISE MADE – PROMISE KEPT
As someone who walked the streets of Kirkwood, going door to door, working along side, Police Officers, Firefighters, other City employees and scores of citizen volunteers using these two pieces of material.
PROMISE MADE – PROMISE KEPT
Please read and re-read the copies of these two pieces I made for you. Read what was said to the voters regarding police, fire and city staff salaries. Read what was said about streets. Then, deliver.
PROMISE MADE – PROMISE KEPT
You Mrs. Jaksetic definitely need to read these two pieces since your only budgetary leadership on this issue was to sit on the sidelines more worried about a legacy than willing to work hard and deal with the reality of what our community was and is now facing.
If the citizens of Kirkwood would have followed your leadership … or should I say the lack thereof on this issue. If the citizens had listened to the nonsense of Keith Williams with his Kmails and his accusations of the city having all these big surpluses and big slush funds. If the citizens of Kirkwood had listened to your City Council running mate Gary Reim Jr. and his incredibly irresponsible claim our community should borrow more to deal with these long-term budgetary issues. If that had happened … Dear God … then, where would we be today … in this present economic environment … with these present doubled wholesale electric rates and … with the continued stagnant sales tax revenues?
Finally, I wish to remind you all, it was the leadership of our former Mayor, the leadership of the majority of our former City Council, the leadership of numerous city employees, the leadership of an incredible group of citizen volunteers that have helped this City Council to have in reality … in the scope of things … some of the easiest budgetary decisions to make for 2009-2010.
PROMISE MADE – PROMISE KEPT
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2 comments:
Joe,
How many Kirkwood city employees live in Kirkwood? I'd be curious to know.
I've also been curious about how many Kirkwoodians have been foreclosed upon since the global recession began...can you find out the statistics?
It is my opinion that certain Kirkwoodians may currently regret having voted yes on Prop C. I have spoken with neighbors that are having to pinch pennies (due to job losses or pay cuts) in order to maintain residence in Kirkwood. But, according to you, all is as it should be because our city is flush with taxpayer money...your logic doesn't make much sense to me.
To me, the city should be doing all it can to relieve its citizens during this rough time. How can you disagree with that logic?
Gary Reim Jr.
greim@color-art.com
Gary,
Sorry I did not get a chance to post your comment sooner. I had some computer problems and a few other issues to deal with.
First, I would think you already know the answer to your question of, “How many Kirkwood city employees live in Kirkwood?” Are you not Kirkwood's own self-proclaimed "budgetary genius?”
You did serve on the Citizen Finance Committee. You know where you showed your true “community leadership” by quitting. Then, to top it off you could not quit very well. That sad-sack of an email you sent to the Chairman Steve Powell was quite pathetic. You could not show the competence and the character to simply say, “I resign” and get it over with. What did you expect the Committee Chairman to beg you to stay just because your last name is Reim?
So, I have to ask … what is there to prove by asking, “How many Kirkwood city employees live in Kirkwood?” Is there some baseless point you are hoping to make?
I have a hard time understanding your logic … or should I say the lack thereof!
If you remember right you are the one that suggested we not vote for Prop C. It was you who suggested City Hall borrow more money to pay for projects. You wanted to pass the issue on to future generations rather than show the leadership to face the issue in the here and now. That makes even greater sense now with your logic right?
What is interesting is that Gina Jaksetic your campaign partner was in a work session asking John Adams if it was possible to raise the tax rate to ensure our City Budget would get the $2 million needed to keep its Prop C promises.
Sure is funny how she finally gets a clue about how our City Budget really works in a work session, but publicly will not publicly proclaim her present support for Prop C’s taxes now that she has the hard decisions to make. We had another City Council member that was notorious for acting or voting one way in a work session, then changing their actions and votes to pander to the citizens in the regular meeting.
Finally, I wish to remind you that logic for not supporting Prop C never answered how we as a community were going to retain and attain quality police officers and firefighters when our salary levels were so well below par. Your ignorance on the issue was so out of control that you wrote to me and said, “If we cannot afford to pay the highest salaries to officers and firefighters … so be it!”
You logic has never served you or this community very well Gary.
Like I have said before there is no “Reim or Reason” to support your claims regarding Prop C.
Joe "Joe Kirkwood" Toenjes
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